End member assemblies as well as gas spring and damper assemblies including same

A method of manufacturing an end member assembly dimensioned for securement to an associated flexible spring member, said method comprising:

• providing a first end member including a first end member wall at least partially formed from a first material, said first end member wall including a first side wall portion extending peripherally about said longitudinal axis and a first flange wall portion extending radially outward from along said first side wall portion, said first flange wall portion including a first first flange surface portion and a second first flange surface portion facing opposite said first first flange surface portion such that a first flange thickness is defined therebetween, said first flange wall portion including a plurality of attachment passages extending therethrough and disposed in peripherally-spaced relation to one another about said longitudinal axis;
• providing a second end member including a second end member wall at least partially formed from a second material, said second end member wall including a second side wall portion extending peripherally about said longitudinal axis, a third side wall portion disposed radially outward of said second side wall portion that is dimensioned to receivingly engage the associated flexible spring member therealong and a second flange wall portion extending radially outward from along at least one of said second and third side wall portions, said second flange wall portion including a first second flange surface portion, said second end member including a plurality of attachment studs disposed along said second flange wall portion in peripherally-spaced relation to one another about said longitudinal axis, said plurality of attachment studs projecting axially from said first second flange surface portion toward a distal end spaced apart from said first second flange surface portion such that said plurality of attachment studs have a first stud length that is greater than said first flange thickness of said first flange wall portion of said first end member wall;
• operatively connecting a plurality of securement devices to one of said first and second end members such that said plurality of securement devices are disposed in peripherally-spaced relation to one another about said longitudinal axis with one or more of said plurality of securement devices disposed between adjacent ones of said plurality of attachment passages;
• providing a sealing device at least partially formed from a third material and positioning said sealing device along one of said first side wall portion of said first end member and said second side wall portion of said second end member;
• positioning said first and second end members axially coextensive with one another such that said sealing device is sealingly disposed between axially-coextensive portions of said first side wall portion of said first end member and said second side wall portion of said second end member, such that said first first flange surface portion and said first second flange surface portion are disposed in facing relation to one another, such that said plurality of securement devices are accessible from along said second first flange surface portion of said first flange wall portion and rotationally oriented such that at least one of said plurality of securement devices is disposed between adjacent ones of said plurality of attachment passages, and such that at least one of said plurality of attachment studs extends through a corresponding one of said plurality of attachment passages and beyond said second first flange surface portion;
• and,
• forming a stud head unitarily along said at least one of said plurality of attachment studs by deforming said at least one of said plurality of attachment studs radially outward and axially toward said second first flange surface portion to a second stud length that is less than or equal to said first flange thickness such that said stud head abuttingly engages said second first flange surface portion of said first flange wall portion thereby permanently retaining said first and second end members in an assembled condition.