====== ball and socket joints ======

^ Techniques infobox ^^
| image |  |
| designers | [[:user:tim|Timothy Schmidt]] |
| date | 2013 |
| vitamins |  |
| materials |  |
| transformations |  |
| lifecycles |  |
| parts | [[:frames|Frames]], [[:plates|Plates]], [[:bolts|Bolts]], [[:nuts|Nuts]], [[:ball_hitches|Ball hitches]] |
| techniques |  |
| tools | [[:wrenches|Wrenches]] |
| git |  |
| files |  |
| suppliers |  |
| reversible | true |

[[:category:techniques|Category:Techniques]]

==== Introduction ====

In an automobile, ball joints are spherical bearings that connect the control arms to the steering knuckles, and are used on virtually every automobile made. They bionically resemble the ball-and-socket joints found in most tetrapod animals.

A ball joint consists of a bearing stud and socket enclosed in a casing; all these parts are made of steel. The bearing stud is tapered and threaded, and fits into a tapered hole in the steering knuckle. A protective encasing prevents dirt from getting into the joint assembly. Usually, this is a rubber-like boot that allows movement and expansion of lubricant. Motion-control ball joints tend to be retained with an internal spring, which helps to prevent vibration problems in the linkage.

==== Challenges ====

==== Approaches ====

  * [[https://www.westerntowing.co.uk/product/alko-pressed-steel-coupling-to-fit-40mm-wide-box/#|Alko pressed steel trailer coupling for 40mm frames]]

==== References ====

  * [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_joint|Wikipedia: Ball joint]]

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[[https://github.com/timschmidt/replimat/blob/e0bc0b855bb946bab00c75ca0d8b002ae0dc0172/wiki/ball_and_socket_joints.html|Original archived page]] — revision 9526, 2022-04-29T15:25:18+00:00, by Tim.