The present invention provides a rocker arm assembly for an internal combustion engine comprising an elongate rocker arm having a pushrod engaging portion proximate one end, a valve stem engaging portion proximate its other end, and a socket-forming recess inbetween the ends with an aperture therethrough, retaining stud means extending through the aperture, part-ball-means retained on the stud means within the socket-forming recess forming with the recess a ball-in-socket type coupling of the rocker arm and stud means for relative articulated movement, the improvement wherein a plurality of ball bearings are arranged in a part spherical array to bear loading beteeen the recess and the part-ball means. By providing either of the recess or the part-ball member with a part spherical bearing surface, the ball bearings may be coupled to the other in a spherical array. Preferably, the ball bearings may be carried in a ring-like frustospherical raceway to protrude from both inwardly and outwardly directed surfaces of the raceway into engagement with frustospherical bearing surfaces both formed in the recess and on the part-ball member.