LENKSTANGENKOPF.

摘要

A tie rod end (16) has a one-piece stamped sheet metal housing (40) for connecting a tie rod and a ball stud (30). The sheet metal housing includes a tie rod receiving portion (42) with a longitudinally extending chamber for receiving an end portion of a tie rod; a socket portion (44) which encloses a ball stud and an elastomeric bearing therebetween; and a connector section (46) extending between the tie rod receiving portion and the socket portion. The sheet metal housing is made by starting with a single flat piece of sheet metal which is formed, using progressive dies, into its final shape. The sheet metal element has only one seam thereon, which extends throughout the tie rod receiving portion and connector portion and through a part only of the socket portion. The single piece of sheet metal encircles the ball stud and bearing and completely defines an opening through which a shank of the ball stud projects.