Mechanical joint assembly such as a ball joint assembly and method of manufacturing such a ball joint assembly

Method of manufacturing a ball joint assembly, which comprises, in succession:

• a first step in which a ball joint centrepiece which delimits an exterior surface in the form of a truncated sphere is obtained;
• a second step in which a metal tubular sleeve is fitted around the centrepiece;
• a third step in which a pressing or forming force is applied to the exterior surface of the sleeve in order to apply the entire interior surface of the sleeve against the exterior surface of the centrepiece until it is made to complement the exterior surface of the centrepiece, the exterior surface of the sleeve then being substantially in the form of a truncated sphere;
• and
• a fourth step in which moulding in particular is used to add an external body made of a plastic matrix composite material around the sleeve in such a way that the sleeve constitutes an insert, the exterior surface of which is fixedly attached to the external body, being covered by this body, to form an interface via which stresses can be transmitted between this insert and this external body,
• wherein, between the end of the third step and the start of the fourth step, the substantially spherical envelope defined by the exterior surface of the sleeve is maintained.