Self-retaining close tolerance bushing

In combination with a structural component having a bushing-receiving opening extending therethrough, a self-retaining molded bushing suitable for use in close tolerance installations wherein the tolerance to be maintained ranges from on the order of +0.002" to on the order of +0.005", said bushing being mounted in said bushing-receiving opening extending through said structural component, said bushing being formed of thermoplastic material and having a circumferentially continuous tubular body portion with an outside diameter D.sub.1 , an enlarged premolded first retaining head formed at one end of said body portion for coaction with one surface of said structural component in surrounding relation to said bushing-receiving opening therein, an annular groove formed internally of said tubular body portion and spaced axially from said premolded retaining head by a distance greater than the thickness of said structural component in which said bushing is mounted with said annular groove defining an annular weakened area in said tubular body portion, said tubular body portion having an axially extending area of reduced wall thickness outboard of said annular groove and at the end of said body portion remote from said premolded first enlarged retaining head, said end of said body portion remote from said premolded first enlarged retaining head having an outwardly flared extremity with an outside diameter D.sub.2 where D.sub.2 is greater than D.sub.1, and an external stepped annular shoulder formed on said tubular body portion, said shoulder extending axially from said premolded enlarged retaining head and having an axial length sufficient to provide a good close tolerance bearing surface having a tolerance in the range of +0.002" to +0.005" engagable with said structural component in which said bushing is mounted and having an outside diameter D.sub.3 substantially equal to the diameter of said bushing-receiving opening where D.sub.3 is at least equal to D.sub.2, said axially extending area of reduced wall thickness being expandable outwardly about said annular weakened area by force applied internally thereto until the expanded end of said tubular body portion flips over and backwardly upon said body portion by self-propelled elastic action to form a reversely folded second enlarged retaining head so that said bushing is securely fastened to said structural component with axial movement thereof within said bushing-receiving opening being precluded by coaction between said first and second enlarged retaining heads and the opposite surfaces of said structural component, while radial movement of said bushing within said bushing-receiving opening is precluded by a close tolerance fit with said stepped shoulder.