Process for making an all-plastic rod end

A process for forming a plastic spherical rod end, said process comprising the steps of:

• providing first and second split bearing raceway members, each of which defines one-half of an annular bearing raceway having a central aperture with a selected diameter, and an elongated stem extending from said annular bearing raceway, each said stem having an open ended semi-cylindrical recess,
• providing a spherical ball having a diameter less than the annular bearing raceway, but greater than the diameter of said central aperture in said annular bearing raceway, said ball having a central hole extending diametrically therethrough,
• placing the second split bearing raceway member onto said first split bearing raceway member to form a complete annular bearing raceway, such that said spherical wall is encased and rotatable in said annular bearing raceway, and such that said elongated stems are in alignment to form a cylinder having an open end;
• then molding a plastic housing around said complete annular bearing raceway but spaced from the central apertures therein and from the spherical ball, thereby forming an integral assembly which encases the split bearing raceway members but does not inhibit movement of the spherical ball and allows connection to the open ended cylinder defined by the elongated stems of the split bearing raceway members.