Premium performance ball joint and system

A suspension system for a vehicle comprising:

• a wishbone arm having a portion for releasably securing a ball joint assembly to the wishbone arm;
• and a ball joint assembly releasably secured to the wishbone arm, the ball joint assembly including:
• a housing having an internal cavity with a socket, internal threads positioned apart from the socket, and a portion for being releasably secured to the wishbone arm;
• a ball stud having a ball portion for mating with said socket of said housing;
• a retainer having a threaded portion for mating with the internal threads of said housing, said retainer further having a grease port for delivering grease to a void within said ball joint assembly.

A ball joint system for a vehicle comprising:

• a receiving ring having a threaded portion;
• and
• a ball joint secured to the receiving ring, the ball joint including:
• a housing having an internal cavity with a chamber, internal threads for receiving a retainer, and a threaded portion for being releasably secured to the threaded portion of the receiving ring;
• a stud having a ball portion for mating with said cavity of said housing;
• a retainer having a threaded portion for mating with the internal threads of said housing, said retainer further having a grease port for delivering grease to a void within said ball joint assembly.

A ball joint assembly for use in a suspension system for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

• a housing having an internal cavity with a socket, and internal threads positioned apart from the socket;
• a first ball stud having a first length and ball portion for mating with said socket of said housing;
• a retainer having a threaded portion for mating with the internal threads of said housing, said retainer further having a grease port for delivering grease to a void located between said ball stud and a wall of said retainer;
• a locking member for securing said retainer to said housing;
• and
• a second ball stud having a second length, said second ball stud can be installed to replace said first ball stud.

A universal ball joint system for a vehicle comprising:

• a ball joint stud having a ball portion, an elongated shaft, and a threaded portion;
• a first housing having a cavity and internal threads for receiving a retainer;
• and
• a retainer having a threaded portion for mating with the internal threads of said housing,
• wherein said universal ball joint system can be modified so as to replace the first housing with a second housing, second housing has different external configurations than said first housing, said ball joint stud and said retainer can be used with said second housing.

metal ball joint comprising in combination:

• an elongated shaft having an upper end and a lower end, said elongated shaft being threaded on the lower end;
• a ball located on the upper end of the elongated shaft, said ball having a continuous curved surface and further having a truncated flat surface;
• a housing having an outside surface, a middle portion, an internal thread, and a lower end, said housing further having a curved seat disposed at an end of the housing to seat and engage a first portion of the curved surface of the ball adjacent the elongated shaft and an opening formed in the seat for passage therethrough of the elongated shaft but not permitting passage therethrough of the ball such as to permit pivotal movement of the elongated shaft relative to the housing;
• a retainer having an upper surface, a lower end and a first thread, said retainer having a curved seat disposed at the lower end thereof to engage a second portion of the curved surface of the ball adjacent the truncated flat, the retainer being capable of maintaining a seal between the ball and the housing via pressure of lubricant on the truncated flat of the ball;
• a locking member removably maintaining the retainer in engagement with the housing such that the retainer can be selectively removed from the housing by removal of the locking member;
• and a lubricant zerk.

A metal ball joint for use with a pressurized lubricant, the ball, joint comprising in combination:

• an elongated shaft having an upper end and a lower end, said elongated shaft being threaded on the lower end;
• a ball surmounted on the upper end of the elongated shaft, said ball having a curved surface and further having a flat surface on the upper end of the elongated shaft;
• a housing having an outside surface, a flange, a middle portion, a lower end, and a first thread, said housing further having a curved seat disposed at the lower end of the housing to seat and engage the curved surface of the ball adjacent the elongated shaft and an opening formed in the seat for passage therethrough of the elongated shaft but not permitting passage therethrough of the ball such as to permit pivotal movement of the elongated shaft relative to the housing;
• a retainer having an upper surface and a lower end, said retainer having a seat disposed at the lower end thereof to seat and engage another portion of the curved surface of the ball adjacent the flat surface thereof and a lubricating port passing through the retainer, the lubricating port having a passageway, said port permitting the admission of a pressurized lubricant such that the pressurized lubricant exerts a pressure against the flat surface of the ball to maintain pressure on the ball to maintain the ball against the seat of the housing, said retainer having a second thread engageable with the first thread of the housing to trap the ball within the housing and the retainer;
• the retainer being capable of maintaining a seal between the ball and the housing via the pressure of the lubricant on the flat surface of the ball;
• and
• a fastener releasably engageable to the housing to selectively secure the retainer to the housing such that the retainer can be selectively removed from the housing by removal of the fastener.

A metal ball joint for use as a component of a suspension system, said ball joint comprising:

• a ball stud having an elongated shaft portion with an upper end with a ball, and a threaded portion at a lower end, said ball having a curved surface and a flat;
• a housing having an outside surface, an outwardly extending portion extending from the outside surface, a lower end and an internal thread;
• a first curved seat disposed at the lower end of the housing to seat and engage the curved surface of the ball;
• an opening formed in the first curved seat for passage therethrough of the elongated shaft but not permitting passage therethrough of the ball such as to permit pivotal movement of the elongated shaft relative to the housing;
• an attachment feature that is operable for selective attachment of said housing to a suspension system;
• a retainer having an upper surface and a lower end, said retainer having an external thread, the external thread being engageable with the internal thread of the housing to trap the ball within the housing and the retainer, the retainer maintaining a seal between the ball and the housing via pressure of a lubricant on the ball;
• a second curved seat disposed at the lower end of the retainer to seat and engage a second portion of the curved surface of the ball;
• a securing member threaded to the housing, the retainer can be selectively removed from the housing by removal of the securing member,
• wherein said securing member and retainer are adapted to be selectively separated from said housing allowing said elongated shaft to be removed from said housing, a replacement shaft to be inserted inside said housing and the retainer to be secured to said housing.

A metal ball joint for use with a pressurized lubricant, the ball joint comprising in combination:

• an elongated shaft having an upper end and a lower end, said elongated shaft being threaded on the lower end;
• a ball surmounted on the upper end of the elongated shaft, said ball having a curved surface and further having a flat surface on the upper end of the elongated shaft;
• a housing having an outside surface, a flange, a middle portion, a lower end, and a first thread, said housing further having a curved seat disposed at the lower end of the housing to seat and engage the curved surface of the ball adjacent the elongated shaft and an opening formed in the seat for passage therethrough of the elongated shaft but not permitting passage therethrough of the ball such as to permit pivotal movement of the elongated shaft relative to the housing;
• a retainer having an upper surface and a lower end, said retainer having a seat disposed at the lower end thereof to seat and engage another portion of the curved surface of the ball adjacent the flat surface thereof and a lubricating port passing through the retainer, the lubricating port having a passageway, said port permitting the admission of a pressurized lubricant such that the pressurized lubricant exerts a pressure against the flat surface of the ball to maintain pressure on the ball to maintain the ball against the seat of the housing, said retainer having a second thread engageable with the first thread of the housing to trap the ball within the housing and the retainer;
• the retainer being capable of maintaining a seal between the ball and the housing via the pressure of the lubricant on the flat surface of the ball;
• and
• a fastener releasably engageable to the housing to selectively secure the retainer to the housing such that the retainer can be selectively removed from the housing by removal of the fastener.