Constant velocity joint and method of manufacturing the same

A method of manufacturing a constant velocity joint having a tubular outer member having a plurality of guide grooves defined in an inner wall surface thereof that are spaced from each other and extend in an axial direction of the tubular outer member, a plurality of trunnions disposed in an opening defined in said tubular outer member and projecting respectively into said guide grooves, a ring-shaped roller fitted over each of said trunnions and held in contact with surfaces defining said guide grooves, a plurality of rolling elements rollingly interposed between each of said trunnions and said roller, said roller having an inner circumferential wall surface, a one-sided flange projecting radially from an axial end of said inner circumferential wall surface, and a holder mounted in an opposite axial end of said inner circumferential wall surface and holding said rolling elements, said method comprising:

• before said holder is mounted in said roller,
• configuring all rolling elements as an annular array,
• simultaneously inserting all of the rolling elements into said roller, in an axial direction of said inner circumferential wall surface, which is a direction opposite to said one-sided flange,
• placing all of the rolling elements onto said inner circumferential wall surface with a radial clearance defined between said inner circumferential wall surface and outer circumferential surfaces of said rolling elements;
• and
• after said all rolling elements are inserted altogether into said roller, installing said holder to hold said rolling elements on the opposite axial end of said inner circumferential wall surface of said roller.