Socket assembly with a coated washer

A socket assembly, comprising:

• a housing having an inner bore extending along a central axis between a closed first end of said housing and an open second end of said housing;
• a lower bearing disposed in said inner bore of said housing, said lower bearing having a bearing surface and a planar support surface opposite said bearing surface;
• a ball stud having a shank portion extending outwardly from said housing through said open second end and a ball portion disposed in said inner bore;
• a preload washer biasing said lower bearing into engagement with said ball portion of said ball stud, said preload washer being made of a metal that has a heat setting temperature and having an outer coating of a heat insulating material which allows the preload washer to operate in an environment above the heat setting temperature without the preload washer taking a heat set;
• said outer coating of said preload washer engaging said planar support surface of said lower bearing;
• and
• said lower bearing being able to float radially within said inner bore relative to the housing and to said preload washer by sliding said planar support surface along said preload washer.