Socket assembly with an improved boot

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

• preparing a housing that has an inner bore;
• inserting a portion of a stud into the inner bore such that a shank portion of the stud is at least partially disposed outside of the inner bore;
• engaging an adapter with a flexible boot body to present a boot;
• sealing a first end portion of the flexible body with the housing and sealing the adapter with the shank portion of the stud;
• supporting a second end portion of the flexible body in a predetermined position relative to the shank portion of the stud with the adapter;
• inserting a fluid into an interior of the flexible boot body;
• and
• guiding the fluid through an axial passage in fluid connection with the flexible boot body and sequentially through each of a first circumferential passage in fluid connection with the axial passage, through a first radial passage in fluid connection with the first circumferential passage, through a second circumferential passage, through a second radial passage, and then out of the socket assembly.

A boot assembly, comprising:

• a flexible boot body made of a flexible material and extending from a first end portion to a second end portion;
• said flexible boot body having an interior;
• an adapter made of a separate piece from said flexible body;
• said adapter including at least one retainer lockingly connecting said adapter with said second end portion of said flexible boot body;
• said flexible boot body and adapter defining an interface;
• and
• said interface between said adapter and said flexible boot body including a labyrinth of passages for guiding a lubricant from said interior of said boot body to outside said boot assembly, said labyrinth of passages including:
• an axial passage in fluid connection with said interior of said flexible boot body,
• a first radial passage for conveying lubricant out of said moveable socket assembly,
• a first circumferential passage establishing fluid connection between said axial passage and said first radial passage,
• a second circumferential passage in fluid connection with said first radial passage,
• a second radial passage in fluid connection with said second circumferential passage, and
• wherein said interface is configured such that for the lubricant to pass from said interior of said boot body to outside said boot body the lubricant must pass sequentially through each of said axial passage, said first circumferential passage, said first radial passage, said second circumferential passage, and said second radial passage.