7 Ways to Extend Bronze Bushing Service Life
Life is engineered, and maintained
Most bronze bushings fail early for preventable reasons. These seven practices routinely double service life.
- Confirm the fit before installation. An over-tight fit starves the bearing of oil film; an over-loose fit invites impact and edge loading. Verify clearance against the drawing.
- Install squarely. Cocked installation creates edge loading that grinds the bore into a bell-mouth shape.
- Check alignment. Misaligned shaft and housing add bending loads the bearing was never designed to carry.
- Keep lubricant clean. Filtered oil and sealed housings remove the abrasive grit that polishes a bore away.
- Choose the right alloy. If the OEM alloy wears fast in your duty, upgrade — C95400 or C86300 for impact, C95800 for saltwater.
- Run correct speed/load. A bearing at 80% of rated load lasts many times longer than one at 110%.
- Replace before failure. Catch the wear trend at overhauls; a $30 bushing replaced early saves a $3,000 shaft.
We can help
Send the failed part or the duty data — we will recommend the alloy, fit and groove design that gives the longest life.
Related Reading
Related Products
Cylindrical Bronze Bushings
Plain and slotted cylindrical bronze bushings, machined to your drawings in high-leaded tin bronze, phosphor bronze or aluminum bronze.
View DetailsFlanged Bronze Bushings
Single- and double-flanged bronze bushings for axial and radial load support, machined complete from cast bronze with the flange integral to the body.
View DetailsCone Crusher Socket Liners
High-leaded bronze socket liners (bowl-shaped bearing seats) for cone crushers, cast and machined to match original equipment dimensions.
View Details