Swivel bearing

A ball and socket swivel bearing comprising a metallic socket member defining a socket having an inner surface and having at least one side opening, a metallic swivel ball member having an exterior spherical bearing surface positioned within said socket and providing an equator within said socket, said bearing surface being spaced from said surface of said socket and cooperating therewith to define a cavity, a bearing material molded in said cavity providing an interior spherical bearing surface mating with said exterior spherical bearing surface and an outer surface mating with the adjacent surface of said socket, said bearing material supporting said ball member during swiveling movement thereof relative to said socket member, said ball member being accessible through said side opening, said socket member providing retainer surfaces on both sides of said equator having a diameter less than the diameter of said equator of said ball member and spaced from said ball member during normal operation, said retainer surfaces preventing movement of said ball member out of said socket in the event said bearing material fails, said socket member providing a thinned laterally extending lip along one side thereof providing one of said retainer surfaces.