Rubber Flex Bushings

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.

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.

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.

For Industrial bushing applications, beyond ambient conditions (such as the presence of oil, solvent or excess heat), the most important factors to consider in designing your bushing, are the physical and mechanical requirements of the application.

Static Radial load capacity for a three piece “silent bloc” bushing is typically rated at 600 psi. If you are experiencing premature failures with a “silent bloc” bushing, a Center Bonded Bushing of the same size, can often solve the problem. Because the rubber or neoprene overmold, is bonded to the O.D. of the insert, it has a greater radial load capacity (Static Radial load capacity of 1,000 psi), than a three piece bushing.

Additionally a Center Bonded Bushing will typically provide a more consistent spring rate, than the silent bloc bushing, because the rubber overmold size is produced from a consistently sized mold, rather than manually cut to size.

Additionally, torsional testing performed on three piece “silent bloc” bushings, shows that in some cases the silent bloc bushings will not retain their torsional properties, after warm-up.

For On Highway bushing applications, ambient conditions (particularly excess heat) is an important consideration for parts used in under hood applications, higher volumes typically push decisions toward lower cost alternatives. Fully mold bonded bushings are often used, but because the rubber is left in tension, they do not typically provide extended life cycles. A swaging or pre-stressing process is recommended for the finished bushing to add compression, but typically requires a second set of tooling and separate manufacturing operation to accomplish the pre-stress function. While a bit more expensive, the swaging process (described above) provides a more durable reliable part, with the addition of compression.

The post mold bonding process is commonly used on large undercarriage parts, and can improve durability, but also requires additional manufacturing steps, (application of primer and adhesive) and an oven, or other tooling equipment (coil) to flux the primer and adhesive.