Bearing assembly with elastomeric sleeve element

A process for producing a bearing assembly comprising:

• positioning a first sleeve element defining an outside diameter in an injection mould, the injection mould having a cylindrical recess with a diameter for receiving the first sleeve element, the outside diameter of the first sleeve element being lesser than the diameter of the recess, wherein the outside diameter of the first sleeve element has a value in a stress-free state of between 95% and 99.5% of the diameter of the recess of the injection mould;
• positioning a second sleeve element concentrically within the first sleeve element in the injection mould so as to form an annular chamber between the first and second sleeve elements;
• injecting an elastomeric material in a molten state under a pressure into the annular chamber between the first and second sleeve elements such that the outside diameter of the first sleeve element is expanded;
• allowing the elastomeric material to solidify in the annular chamber between the first and second sleeve elements so as to form a ring of elastomeric material;
• and
• removing as an assembly the first and second sleeve elements and the ring of elastomeric material from the injection mould, wherein, after removing the assembly from the injection mould, radial tensile stresses within the ring of elastomeric material are substantially zero.