A bearing assembly for coupling first and second members (1; 2), at least one of the first and second members (1; 2) being movable relative to the other one of the first and second members (1; 2), the bearing assembly comprising: a housing one of coupled with the first member and integrally formed with the first member , the housing having a central bore; a laminated bearing section and a spherical bearing section each disposed within the housing bore, one of the laminated bearing section and the spherical bearing section being disposed within the other one of the laminated bearing section and the spherical bearing section and configured to connect with the second member; the laminated bearing section including a generally cylindrical body formed of a plurality of alternating, generally tubular, substantially flexible laminae and generally tubular, substantially rigid laminae nested coaxially about a central axis, the laminated bearing section being configured such that at least a portion of the laminated bearing section flexes when torque (T A ) on at least one of the first and second members (1; 2) has a value less than a predetermined value (V P ); and the spherical bearing section including a generally annular outer race having a concave inner circumferential surface , the inner surface being partially spherical and defining a bore , and a partially spherical inner member disposed within the outer race bore and having a convex, partially spherical outer surface disposed against the inner surface of the outer race portion, the spherical bearing section being configured such that the spherical bearing inner member slidably displaces within the spherical bearing outer member when torque (T A ) on the at least one of the first and second members (1; 2) has a value of at least the predetermined value (V P ), characterized in that the spherical bearing inner member remains substantially stationary relative to the spherical bearing outer member when torque (T A ) on the at least one of the first and second members (1; 2) is lesser than the predetermined value (V P ). a housing one of coupled with the first member and integrally formed with the first member , the housing having a central bore; a laminated bearing section and a spherical bearing section each disposed within the housing bore, one of the laminated bearing section and the spherical bearing section being disposed within the other one of the laminated bearing section and the spherical bearing section and configured to connect with the second member; the laminated bearing section including a generally cylindrical body formed of a plurality of alternating, generally tubular, substantially flexible laminae and generally tubular, substantially rigid laminae nested coaxially about a central axis, the laminated bearing section being configured such that at least a portion of the laminated bearing section flexes when torque (T A ) on at least one of the first and second members (1; 2) has a value less than a predetermined value (V P ); and the spherical bearing section including a generally annular outer race having a concave inner circumferential surface , the inner surface being partially spherical and defining a bore , and a partially spherical inner member disposed within the outer race bore and having a convex, partially spherical outer surface disposed against the inner surface of the outer race portion, the spherical bearing section being configured such that the spherical bearing inner member slidably displaces within the spherical bearing outer member when torque (T A ) on the at least one of the first and second members (1; 2) has a value of at least the predetermined value (V P ), characterized in that the spherical bearing inner member remains substantially stationary relative to the spherical bearing outer member when torque (T A ) on the at least one of the first and second members (1; 2) is lesser than the predetermined value (V P ). <EOS>