Bushings and Mountings

Rubber-Flex Bushings

Prepared in our ISO Certified Rochester Hills facility our Rubber Insulated Bushings are made with the finest natural rubber or synthetic elastomers to provide flexible solutions to the noise, vibration, shock, and misalignment problems inherent in most mechanical designs.

Our Molded Rubber Products - Rubber-Flex Bushings:

• Save Investment Dollars – Can be Fabricated from Existing Tooling and Fixtures
• Compensate for Mis-Alignment
• Reduce Vibration
• Provide Highest Fatigue Life, with Rubber in Compression and Shear Design
• Absorb Shock
• Sustain Very High Static and Dynamic Loads
• Reduce Noise
• Eliminate the Need for Lubrication
• Reduce Maintenance

Rubber-Flex bushings are produced to your specifications at exceptionally low cost, even in small lots.  Inner and outer sleeves are separated by an elastomer wall that also holds them together with a strong bond.  The elastomer takes up all the movement without permitting the bonding surfaces to move.

Existing Tooling and Fixtures

Based on our experience, and the accumulation of tooling from prior years – there are many sizes we can offer which require only assembly – eliminating the expense of tooling.  We can also help you determine the least expensive approach to match your specific needs.

Choice of Materials Bushings

Bushing inserts can be supplied in virtually any metal – brass, steel (often case hardened for use on torsional bushings with end serrations for gripping), stainless steel, bronze (including porous bronze powdered metal bearings for lubrication), copper or plated metal – and plastics.  The outside diameter of the outer can of the bushing is often centerless ground to size to “press fit” into a receiving bore hole.

Elastomer selection is most often driven by the environment of the application.  Ozone exposure, severe cold or heat, exposure to oil, gas, diesel, or solvents must be considered.

Selecting the Correct Bushing

We offer free design assistance, and can help if you are designing a new product.  If you are looking towards systems integration to reduce the number of parts, attempting to solve specific application problems, or simply trying to reduce noise and vibration in an existing mechanism, we can assist to ensure your bushing design will meet all of the physical and mechanical requirements of the application.

The proper design takes into consideration radial, (both static and dynamic), axial, torsional and conical loads and their combined effects.  Plus cycle speeds and frequency of application, size and space limitations (shaft size/maximum O.D. / I.D., or length) and any abnormal environmental influences such as exposure to heat, cold, oil, and solvents.

Method of Manufacture

Beyond the choice between transfer, injection, or compression molding – it’s important to understand the physical and mechanical requirements of your application.  If you are considering a center bonded over mold, can your parts accept axial loading thru the bore? What radial loads are expected, and will a silent-bloc bushing handle the expected radial load of your application?  Will a fully mold bonded design hold up in a rigorous application – or should the part be pre-stressed to add durability and longevity in my application?  What is the best method of manufacture for reciprocating torsional force?

Contact us early-on in your project - Bushings Inc. can help with all of the above questions based on our 70+ years of experience.