Double cardan universal joint

Claim 1

In a double Cardan universal joint including: a pair of cross joint assemblies each including a yoke and a trunnion of a cross; a motion transmitting ring; and a centering assembly comprising a socket portion extending from one of said yokes and formed with a socket opening and a lubricant reservoir, a cylindrical stem extending from the other of the yokes into said socket opening, an annular insert mounted in said socket opening, a ball member oscillatorily retained in said annular insert and formed with an aperture for receiving said cylindrical stem for rotation about its own axis and axial sliding movement, a first seal means disposed between the outer peripheral surface of said ball member and said socket portion, and a second seal member disposed between said aperture in said ball member and said cylindrical stem; the improvement comprising forming said annular insert from a self-lubricating shoe member formed of a synthetic resinous material and further including a metallic ring member integrally formed with at least a portion of said self-lubricating shoe member and having a flange portion extending about a predetermined portion of said self-lubricating shoe member, said annular insert being formed with yielding means for allowing said insert to be deformable radially outwardly so that it can be fitted about said ball member.