Socket assembly and method of making a socket assembly

A method of making a socket assembly, comprising the steps of:

• preparing a housing with an inner bore which extends from a wall at a generally closed first end to an open second end;
• inserting a backing bearing with a curved first bearing surface into the inner bore of the housing such that an annular gap surrounds the backing bearing to allow the backing bearing to move in a radial direction relative to said housing within the inner bore;
• inserting a ball portion of a ball stud into the inner bore of the housing and wherein the ball stud has a shank portion which extends from the ball portion out of the inner bore through the open second end of the housing and wherein a curved outer surface of the ball portion is in sliding contact with the first bearing surface of the backing bearing;
• inserting a radial ring with a second bearing surface into the inner bore of the housing with the second bearing surface being in sliding contact with an equator of the ball portion of the ball stud such that the radial ring abuts a shoulder of the housing;
• inserting an exit bearing with a curved third bearing surface into the inner bore of the housing such that the third bearing surface is brought into sliding contact with the curved outer surface of the ball portion of the ball stud and such that the exit bearing is spaced from the radial ring in an axial direction by a gap which surrounds the ball portion of the ball stud;
• and
• wherein the backing bearing has a cylindrical outer surface which has an outer diameter that is less than a diameter of the second bearing surface of the radial ring.