The stud is a critical component of rotational chassis parts like ball joints and tie rod ends—and it’s essential that it is correctly designed and manufactured from the right steel alloy. Like all MOOG steering and suspension components, MOOG studs are made for long-lasting, problem-solving performance.
For maximum strength, MOOG studs are heat treated for durability - ensuring the stud will bend, but not break in the event of a collision. This helps to prevent catastrophic failure.
MOOG’s full ball design is engineered to minimize friction and optimize performance.
MOOG designs studs to ensure that they won’t fail during the regular service life of the part if correctly installed.
PATENTED COVER PLATE & BELLEVILLE WASHER
Patented Cover Plate
Deflection (or looseness) in the socket is a common symptom of ball joint failure. Looseness develops as bearing surfaces wear. Eventually the looseness will have adverse effects on the vehicle, causing uneven tire wear, noises, and steering wandering. MOOG’s patented pressed-in cover plate minimizes socket looseness to maximize socket life. Combined with a Belleville washer spring preload, this technique provides a consistently tight socket, when new, that maintains the like-new steering feel longer.
Eliminates excessive ‘lash’ while allowing adequate assembly clearance, and controls component high-side tolerance “stackup” to prevent binding.
Holds axial clearances to near-zero lash.
Axial and radial deflection consistency is more precise than conventional closure methods
Belleville Washer Technology
Ordinary Belleville washers can shatter after repeated cyclic loading, creating excessive clearance in the socket. MOOG Belleville washers are stress optimized to maintain consistent preload force between the cover plate and bearing while withstanding years of cyclic loading. That keeps socket clearances tight to reduce bearing wear for long socket life.
MOOG Belleville spring-steel washers apply 100 lbs. of force or more to minimize socket clearance and promote long bearing life.
The Belleville washer absorbs impacts, minimizing wear to the stud and bearing.
Minimized wear results in consistent operation of the joint, maintaining wheel alignment to extend tire life and keep steering tight, enabling precise handling.
GREASABLE DESIGN
For Reduced Wear and Longer Life
When water, dirt, and debris get into non-greasable socket-style chassis components, there’s no way to get them out. Socket contamination can result in stud corrosion, increased wear and ultimately joint failure. MOOG greasable designs allow fresh grease to be injected, pushing old grease and contaminants out to extend service life.
Greasable design works with the MOOG sealed boot to minimize contamination in the socket assembly.
Fresh grease pushes accumulated contaminants away from bearing surfaces, protecting the ball and bearing assembly.
Porous Gusher Bearing holds grease between the ball and the bearing where it’s needed.
Grease grooves in the ball or bearing ensure that grease flows freely to critical areas, ensuring lubricated ball stud movement.
GUSHER BEARING
Designed for Durability
The bearings in rotational chassis parts like ball joints and tie rod ends are critical to ride quality and vehicle safety. MOOG Gusher Bearings are designed to offer greater resistance to corrosion and degradation from water, dirt and other road contaminants. That adds up to reliable, long-lasting performance.
MOOG’s sintered powdered metal design enables grease to continually flow through it, directly to the surface of the stud, to flush out contaminants, reduce friction, and extend bearing life.
MOOG Gusher Bearings are more resilient to contamination than plastic bearings, which makes MOOG Gusher Bearing sockets well suited for harsh driving conditions.
The Gusher Bearings in MOOG parts deliver low torque when combined with MOOG’s Belleville washer preload and MOOG’s patented assembly techniques, for excellent steering returnability.
Longer-lasting MOOG Gusher Bearings extend socket life to help prevent steering problems like shimmying and steering wheel looseness, as well as reducing uneven tire wear.