Bearing assembly with guide grooves and an axial retaining member and an associated assembly method

A bearing assembly comprising:

• a ball joint including an internal ring having an internal surface forming a bore and a spherical external surface, an external ring having a spherical internal surface mounted on the spherical external surface of the internal ring and a holding sleeve having an external surface mounted within the internal surface of the internal ring;
• wherein one of the internal surface of the internal ring and the external surface of the holding sleeve is provided with at least one axial groove extending from a front face of the internal ring or a front face of the holding sleeve and at least one circumferential groove extending from the at least one axial groove;
• and
• wherein the other one of the internal surface of the internal ring and the external surface of the holding sleeve is provided with at least one axial retaining member configured to be engaged inside the at least one axial groove and the at least one circumferential groove so as to axially block the holding sleeve relative to the internal ring.