Plain Cast Bronze Sleeve Bushings

A plain bronze sleeve bushing is a cylindrical component made from bronze, designed to reduce friction and wear between moving parts. Precision Bronze stocks an inventory of these plain bronze sleeve bushings in industry standard sizes, manufactured from high-quality bronze alloys to ensure excellent load carrying and anti-friction properties. In addition to standard sizes, we offer custom manufacturing to meet your specific size and tolerance requirements, whether you need bushings made from custom prints, specific dimensions, or reverse engineered from your sample parts. Widely used in various applications, our plain sleeve bearings are an ideal choice for general purpose bearing needs.

Typical Properties

Chemical Composition	83% Cu, 7% Sn, 7% Pb, 3% Zn
Tensile Strength	44,000 PSI
Yield Strength	27,000 PSI
Elongation (in 2″)	16%
Brinell Hardness	72
Equivalent Specifications	SAE 660; ASTM B144-52; Mil-B-16261(2), Grade VI; Fed: QQ-L-225, Comp. 12; QQ-B-691b(1) Comp. 12
Material Type	High-leaded tin bronze (C93200)
Key Features	Excellent load-carrying capacity, good wear resistance, low friction, suitable for boundary and mixed-film lubrication.

Common Applications: General purpose bushings, bearings for automotive, industrial, and marine equipment

Tolerances

Inside Diameter (ID)	≤3″: ±0.0010″ ＞3″: ±0.0015″
Outside Diameter (OD)	≤3″: +0.002″ to +0.003″ ＞3″: +0.003″ to +0.005″
All Lengths	±0.005″
Concentricity	0.003″ T.I.R.

These tolerances ensure a precise fit and optimal performance for bronze sleeve bushings, supporting proper interference fit, alignment, and stability during operation.

Press Fit (Interference Fit)

A greater interference fit (tighter fit) is recommended for applications with high loads, impact loads, or where the load direction changes frequently, to prevent the bushing from loosening or rotating during operation.
For thin-walled or softer bushings, excessive interference can cause deformation or cracking, so the press fit should be reduced accordingly.
In environments with significant temperature fluctuations, consider the thermal expansion coefficients of the materials to avoid loosening or excessive tightness due to thermal changes.
During installation, apply force evenly to avoid deformation or loss of concentricity; specialized pressing tools or thermal methods (shrink fit or expansion fit) are recommended.
Refer to standards such as ISO286, ANSI B4.1, and DIN 7157 to select appropriate tolerance grades and fit types for reliable assembly and performance.

Clearance

Smaller clearances are suitable for low-speed, light-load, and high-precision positioning applications, helping to reduce vibration and noise.
Larger clearances are preferable in environments with contaminants, dust, or poor lubrication, to prevent seizing and premature wear.
For high-temperature applications, increase the clearance to compensate for thermal expansion and avoid shaft seizure.
In applications requiring sealing or leakage prevention, minimize clearance, but also consider lubrication and thermal expansion.
The material pairing between shaft and bushing affects optimal clearance; a greater hardness difference may allow for a smaller clearance.

Other Best Practices

Shaft and housing bore surfaces should have recommended surface finishes to minimize wear and extend service life.
Clean all mating surfaces thoroughly before installation to avoid debris affecting fit and longevity.
Regularly inspect the fit and clearance during initial operation and maintenance to detect wear or changes in fit.
A common rule of thumb: allow 0.001″ radial clearance per inch of shaft diameter, with slightly less for larger diameters.