Patent ID: 7481595
Filing Date: 2009-01-27
Classification: B60G,B62D,F16C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A vehicle suspension system comprising: a first suspension member having a first through bore; a second suspension member having a second through bore; a ball joint having a shank portion and a ball portion disposed in a socket shell, said ball joint operatively disposed between said first suspension member and said second suspension member for operatively supporting said first suspension member for movement relative to said second suspension member, said ball joint having a first end disposed adjacent said first suspension member and a second end disposed adjacent said second suspension member; and a ball joint retention member having a first end operatively secured to a first end of said socket shell and a second end operatively secured to said shank portion; wherein said socket shell has a closed end and an open end, said shank portion extending through said open end; wherein said socket shell defines a first outer diameter, said first end of said socket shell includes a flange at said closed end of said socket shell which defines a second outer diameter which is greater than said first outer diameter of said socket shell, and said first end of said ball joint retention member includes an opening which defines a first end inner diameter which is generally equal to or slightly greater than said first outer diameter of said socket shell and less than said second outer diameter of said flange to enable said first end of said ball joint retention member to be captured between said flange of said first end of said socket shell and an adjacent surface of said first suspension member when said socket shell extends through said first through bore and said opening; and wherein said external retention member has an intermediate connecting portion extending between said first and second ends of said ball joint retention member, wherein said second end of said ball joint retention member is operatively captured between said second suspension member and a fastener provided on said shank portion when said shank portion extends through bore and an opening in said second end of said ball joint retention member.