Low torque ball and socket joint assembly

A bearing set for a ball and socket joint, comprising:

• an annular outer bearing having an outer peripheral surface, a first axial surface, a second axial surface, said axial surfaces opposing, a generally cylindrical wall defining a cavity, a hemispherical seat face, said hemispherical seat face formed so as to flare outward at said first axial surface, a plurality of one of notches and locator tabs positioned between said outer peripheral surface and said first axial surface, and a circular channel disposed on said second axial surface, wherein said channel has an angled floor, said hemispherical seat face having a plurality of lubricant grooves and a plurality of compliance grooves wherein said compliance grooves do not intersect said lubrication grooves, and
• an annular inner bearing having an outer peripheral surface, two opposing axial surfaces wherein one of said opposing axial surfaces has a spherical shape, a spherical seat face, a plurality of lubricant grooves, and at least one of the other of said notches and said locator tabs such that said tab is receivable in said notch to align said lubricant grooves of said inner and outer bearings when said bearings are mated together, said outer surface having an unloaded diameter greater than a corresponding unloaded diameter of said hemispherical seat face such that a preload results when said inner bearing is forced into said cavity of said outer bearing.

A ball and socket joint comprising:

• a socket;
• an annular outer bearing being axially compressed within said socket, said outer bearing having an outer peripheral surface, a first axial surface, a second axial surface, wherein said first and second axial surfaces are opposing, a generally cylindrical wall defining a cavity, a hemispherical seat face, and a circular channel disposed on said second axial surface, said hemispherical seat face having at least one lubrication groove and a plurality of compliance grooves, wherein said compliance grooves do not intersect said lubrication groove;
• an annular inner bearing received within said outer bearing, said inner bearing having an outer peripheral surface, two opposing axial surfaces, a spherical seat face, and at least one lubrication groove;
• and
• a ball stud with a stud head and a shank, said stud head engaging said hemispherical seat face and said spherical seat face;
• wherein said compliance grooves, lubrication grooves, and channel of said assembled inner and outer bearings allowing for creep of said bearings for a predetermined time period to partially relax the compression preload such that said joint achieves low torque and low end motion of said ball stud.