Patent ID: 7753611

Claim:
A ball-and-socket joint, adapted for tie rods and steering rods of utility vehicles, comprising: a housing; a ball pivot having an essentially spherical bearing section that is mounted in the housing; a cover that is installed on the housing and includes a closed cover end having a central cylindrical guide surface extending from the closed cover end and an annular radially outwardly extending spreading section; and a spring element resting on the cover and on the bearing section comprising: a support section, a spring section made up of several spring tongues lying radially outside of the support section, wherein the spring tongues rest on the spreading section and are capable of being spread radially outwards by means of the annular radially outwardly extending spreading section, and a cylindrical holding section lying radially inside of the support section and encircling an opening provided in the middle of the spring element, wherein the cylindrical holding section of the spring element extends into and engages the cylindrical guide surface of the cover.