Cross-axis joint for a vehicle

A method of producing a sleeve joint capable of engaging with a vehicle component of a vehicle, such that a ball sleeve (7) has a through-hole (9) extending through the ball sleeve (7) in an axial direction (8), an inner sleeve (4) is arranged inside an outer sleeve (3), a ball socket (5) is arranged in the inner sleeve (4), and the ball sleeve (7) is fitted into and can move within the ball socket (5), the method comprising the steps of:

• engaging the outer sleeve (3) with the vehicle component (24);
• inserting the inner sleeve (4) into the outer sleeve (3);
• inserting the ball socket (5) into the inner sleeve (4);
• radially expanding the outer sleeve (3) by inserting first and second clamp rings (10, 11) into the outer sleeve (3);
• and
• pressing the first and the second clamp rings (10, 11) into the outer sleeve (3);
• bending respective axial ends (16, 17) of the outer sleeve (3) radially inward so that a first portion of each of the first and the second clamp rings (10, 11) is axially and radially surrounded by the respective axial ends (16, 17) of the outer sleeve (3), such that the outer sleeve prevents the first and the second clamp rings from moving axially away from one another;
• fitting a respective sealing bellows (14, 15) onto respective axial ends (12, 13) of the ball sleeve (7) and enveloping a second portion of each of the axially spaced apart clamp rings (10, 11) extending axially beyond the respective axial ends (16, 17) of the outer sleeve (3) such that the inner sleeve (4) and the ball socket (5), which have a same axial length, extend and are axially positioned between the first and the second clamp rings (10, 11), and a first end of the ball socket (5) directly abuts against the first clamp ring (10) while a second end of the ball socket (5) directly abuts against the second clamp ring (11);
• and
• either forming or enlarging an all-round free space (18), between the inner sleeve (4) and the outer sleeve (3), by pressing the first and the second clamp rings (10, 11) into the outer sleeve (3), and extending the all-round free space over an entire axial length of the inner sleeve (4).

A sleeve joint, capable of engaging with a vehicle component of a vehicle, the sleeve joint comprising:

• a ball sleeve having a through-hole extending in an axial direction through the ball sleeve;
• an outer sleeve extending in the axial direction;
• spaced apart first and second clamp rings being arranged inside the outer sleeve;
• an inner sleeve being inserted into the outer sleeve;
• a ball socket being arranged inside the inner sleeve;
• the ball sleeve being rotatably fitted in the ball socket;
• the inner sleeve being sandwiched between and contacting both the first and the second clamp rings, and the inner sleeve being sandwiched between both the ball sleeve and the outer sleeve;
• and
• an annular free space being formed between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve and extending over a full axial length of the inner sleeve.