Method for prestressing an axially retained homokinetic joint

A method for axially prestressing a homokinetic joint comprising a first tulip element for rigidly connecting to one of two shafts to be interconnected and defining raceways, a second element for rigidly connecting to the other of said shafts and comprising a hub and trunnions extending from the hub, the hub defining an axial bore and a radial bearing surface, rollers respectively rotatively and slidably mounted on the trunnions and received in the raceways of the first element, an axial retaining device comprising at least one thrust member slidably mounted in the axial bore of the hub, said thrust member comprising a radial shoulder in facing relation to the radial bearing surface of the hub, and a resiliently yieldable attachment fixed to an end of the tulip element, said method comprising, clipping the resiliently yieldable attachment onto the tulip element while the joint is in an assembled position, then determining for a position of alignment of said first and second elements the size of a gap between the shoulder of the thrust member and the bearing surface of the hub, axially shifting the thrust member away from the hub, and introducing between the thrust member and the hub a shim having a thickness which is so chosen as to be slightly larger than said gap, thereby providing an axial prestress between said thrust member and said hub and thus between said first and second elements.