Constant torque ball joint

A constant torque ball joint, especially applicable as an automotive steering ball joint, comprising a socket joint rod means having a bearing shell at one end, said shell including a socket cavity and first and second openings;

• a ball stud member having a ball head portion positioned in a spaced relation in said socket cavity and having a shank portion connected to said ball head portion and extending through said first opening;
• upper and lower segmental semi-spherical bearing cup pieces being made of a self-lubricating material and mounted to provide a spacing between said bearing pieces;
• said ball head portion being journalled in said bearing cup pieces;
• block means each having a segmental spherical surface and being made of an elastic material having a longitudinal elastic modulus Eo of 1.5 to 10 kg/mm.sup.2 and being tightly interposed between said bearing shell and said bearing cup pieces, said elastic block means consisting of an upper elastic block and a lower elastic block and being mounted, respectively, in a compressed relationship with its segmental spherical surface against the upper and lower bearing cup pieces and with each block space from each other, said elastic blocks being compressed upon assembly at an elastic compression rate of 20 percent or less;
• said bearing shell having shoulder means adjacent said second opening;
• and
• a cover disc closing said second opening and being tightly secured against said shoulder means of said bearing shell.