Ball joint for automotive suspension

Abstract

A ball joint comprising: a housing having an inner cavity defined inward of a seat end, a side wall and a closure end having an opening, an edge about the opening in an assembly position extending upwardly; a ball stud having: a lower ball end with an outer convex spherical surface, a middle portion, and a connector end; a first bearing, slidably housed within the cavity, having an inner concave spherical surface; a retention plate, housed within the cavity inward of the edge about the opening, wherein the edge of the opening extends inwardly engaging an outer surface of the retention plate in a closed position; and a first disc spring disposed in a disc annular recess in at least one of: an outer surface of the first bearing; and an inner surface of the retention plate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.