A ball joint, in particular for the wheel suspension systems of motor vehicles, an external, essentially cylindrical housing, an internal joint piece with a pin supporting a ball section and a bearing race surrounding the ball section, is retained in the cylindrical housing and has annular seals on both sides of the pin ends. In order to achieve a hydraulic damping function, annular gaps are provided about the pin adjacent to the ball section, filled directly or indirectly with a damping fluid.