A spherical plain bearing assembly, comprising: a flexible ball comprising a radial spring ball, the flexible ball having a spherical outer surface, an annular inner surface, a first diameter, and a bore extending therethrough, the inner surface defining a slot therein extending radially outwardly, the flexible ball defining a slit extending axially therethrough such that the flexible ball is resiliently expandable in a radial direction defining a second diameter which is greater than the first diameter, the flexible ball further defining at least one first aperture extending radially therethrough; an outer race having an inner engagement surface contoured to a shape complementary to the spherical outer surface of the flexible ball, the flexible ball being positioned within the outer race such that the spherical outer surface of the flexible ball slidably and rotatably engages the inner engagement surface of the outer race, wherein, upon sliding, rotating or tilting motion of the spherical outer surface of the flexible ball relative to the inner engagement surface of the outer race, a substantially constant torque is maintained in the spherical plain bearing; a shaft having an outer surface defining a ridge extending radially outwardly that is received within the slot in the inner surface of the flexible ball, the shaft further defining at least one second aperture extending at least partway radially inwardly from the outer surface of the shaft, the shaft extending through the bore of the flexible ball and being fixedly secured to the flexible ball to prevent axial sliding and rotating motion of the inner surface of the flexible ball relative to the outer surface of the shaft; and a pin respectively received in the at least one first aperture and the at least one second aperture to maintain the position of the flexible ball in relation to the shaft extending therethrough. a flexible ball comprising a radial spring ball, the flexible ball having a spherical outer surface, an annular inner surface, a first diameter, and a bore extending therethrough, the inner surface defining a slot therein extending radially outwardly, the flexible ball defining a slit extending axially therethrough such that the flexible ball is resiliently expandable in a radial direction defining a second diameter which is greater than the first diameter, the flexible ball further defining at least one first aperture extending radially therethrough; an outer race having an inner engagement surface contoured to a shape complementary to the spherical outer surface of the flexible ball, the flexible ball being positioned within the outer race such that the spherical outer surface of the flexible ball slidably and rotatably engages the inner engagement surface of the outer race, wherein, upon sliding, rotating or tilting motion of the spherical outer surface of the flexible ball relative to the inner engagement surface of the outer race, a substantially constant torque is maintained in the spherical plain bearing; a shaft having an outer surface defining a ridge extending radially outwardly that is received within the slot in the inner surface of the flexible ball, the shaft further defining at least one second aperture extending at least partway radially inwardly from the outer surface of the shaft, the shaft extending through the bore of the flexible ball and being fixedly secured to the flexible ball to prevent axial sliding and rotating motion of the inner surface of the flexible ball relative to the outer surface of the shaft; and a pin respectively received in the at least one first aperture and the at least one second aperture to maintain the position of the flexible ball in relation to the shaft extending therethrough.