Rocker arm assembly with integrated support pin anti-inversion feature

A rocker arm assembly for use in an internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a rocker arm having a transverse through-hole;
• a support pin being positioned in the through-hole and about which the rocker arm rocks;
• a bearing positioned at each end of the support pin in the through-hole between the support pin and the rocker arm, the bearing having an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve and roller elements therebetween,
• the outer sleeve abutting an inner circumferential wall of the through-hole, and having an outer bearing wall that extends radially inward and covers the through-hole,
• the inner sleeve abutting an outer circumferential wall of the support pin, and having an inner bearing wall that extends radially inward and covers an axial end wall of the support pin, the outer bearing wall abutting the inner bearing wall to accommodate axial loads,
• the rolling elements positioned between and in contact with the inner sleeve and outer sleeve to accommodate radial loads;
• and
• a means for preventing inversion of the support pin, wherein the means for preventing inversion of the support pin is a combination of the support pin and at least one of the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve.