A test apparatus provides an applied load to a monoball through a trolley which moves along a loading axis.  While applying the load to the monoball, the torque meter is in communication with the spherical monoball, and a load cell senses the application of applied force to the monoball.  Meanwhile, a rotary actuary imports rotary oscillating motion to the monoball which is sensed by a position sensor and a torque meter.  Accordingly, a processor can determine the coefficient of friction in substantially real time along with a cycles per second rate.