Forged knurled socket housing and method of manufacture

1. A method for manufacturing a cartridge-type housing for a ball and socket joint in a vehicular suspension system, said method comprising the steps of:

inserting a housing blank into a forging tool die;

deforming the housing blank within the forging tool die using a forging tool punch, said deforming step comprising exerting a continuous linear force causing the housing blank to flow under compression; and

forming knurls on an exterior surface of the housing during said deforming step.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of heating the housing blank above ambient temperature during said expanding step.

3. The method of claim 1 further including the step of maintaining the housing blank at generally ambient temperature during said expanding step.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said deforming step includes a plurality of progressive forming procedures each successively expanding the blank toward a final shape.

5. The method of claim 1 further including the step of forming a non-knurled portion on the exterior surface of the housing simultaneously with said step of forming knurls.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of forming a non-knurled portion includes forming a shoulder contiguous to the knurls.

7. An improved ball joint housing forging die tool configured to control formation of the exterior surface of a ball joint housing, said die comprising:

a forging die body;

an inner circumference formed within said forging die body, said inner circumference including a non-knurled portion;

a plurality of knurls disposed at least partially about said inner circumference and adjacent said non-knurled portion, said knurls configured to form a mirror image plurality of complementary knurls on an exterior surface of a forged ball joint housing during a forging process; and

wherein said non-knurled portion of said inner circumference includes an overhanging shoulder contiguous to said knurls configured to form a mirror image shoulder overhanging the complementary formed knurls on the exterior surface of the forged ball joint housing during the forging process.

8. A forging die as set forth in claim 7 wherein said inner circumference of said die body includes a surface texture, and said knurls have a surface texture substantially similar to said surface texture of said inner circumference.

9. A forging die as set forth in claim 7 wherein each of said knurls have a longitudinal length and a generally triangular cross-section in directions perpendicular to said longitudinal length.