Insert bearing part, elastomeric insert bearing and shock strut bearing assembly

An elastomeric insert bearing for supporting a substantially axially extending shock absorber stem of a vehicle shock strut on a vehicle body and for fitting in a body-side mount, the elastomeric insert bearing comprising:

• two structurally separate insert bearing parts that are each configured such that when combined with another insert bearing part having a substantially similar structure the combined insert bearing parts form said elastomeric insert bearing;
• each insert bearing part in turn comprising
• a rigid core that includes an axial throughway adapted for securing the shock absorber stem;
• an elastomeric body that at least partially radially surrounds the rigid core;
• and
• two outer shell parts arranged in line axially and at least partially surrounding the elastomeric body, each insert bearing part comprising a surrounding outer shell having a radially inner radial portion and a radially outer axial portion, wherein the axial portion has no radially directed component and the inner radial portion has no axially directed component;
• and wherein
• said rigid core extends axially beyond the radially outer axial portion such that the combined insert bearing parts contact each other substantially at the radial level of the core whereby an axial spacing between opposing axial portions of the outer shell is formed;
• wherein the elastomeric insert bearing has a prefitted condition and a fitted condition;
• the prefitted condition characterized in that the two outer shell parts are captively secured to the elastomeric body and the axial spacing therebetween permits an axial joining movement of the outer shell parts and a consequent precompression of the elastomeric body, resulting in said fitted condition.