Bronze Bushes & Machined Bronze Bushes – All Alloys, All Types, All Industries
Conex Casting is a specialist manufacturer and global exporter of Bronze Bushes and Machined Bronze Bushes from India. We produce bronze bushings from all major copper alloys – including Leaded Tin Bronze, Aluminium Bronze, Phosphor Bronze, Silicon Bronze, Manganese Bronze, Gunmetal, and more – using casting and precision CNC machining to achieve the dimensional accuracy and surface quality demanded by modern engineering. Our bronze bushes are supplied to customers in the USA, UK, Germany, Australia, the UAE, Singapore, South Africa, and over 50 countries worldwide.
Whether you need standard catalogue bushes or complex custom-machined bronze bushings to your engineering drawings, Conex Casting has the alloy expertise, foundry capability, and machining precision to deliver. We produce bronze bushes in a comprehensive range of types: plain cylindrical, flanged, grooved, thrust, split, wrapped, and special configurations.
What is a Bronze Bush?
A bronze bush (also called a bronze bushing, bronze sleeve bearing, or plain bearing) is a cylindrical bearing element that supports a rotating or oscillating shaft, reducing friction and wear between the moving shaft and the surrounding housing. Bronze is one of the most widely used bearing materials in the world, offering an exceptional combination of strength, hardness, machinability, corrosion resistance, load capacity, and tribological performance.
Bronze bushes are self-lubricating in many grades (oil-impregnated sintered bronze) or used with external lubrication (grease or oil). They operate at a wide range of loads, speeds, and temperatures, making them suitable from slow, heavy-loaded pivot applications to moderate-speed rotating machinery.
Bronze Bush Alloy Grades – Complete Guide
Selecting the correct alloy is critical for bush performance. Conex Casting supplies machined bronze bushes in all major alloy grades:
1. Leaded Tin Bronze Bushes (C83600, C93200, C93800, C94300)
The most commonly used bearing bronzes. Lead acts as a solid lubricant and seizure preventative, making these alloys ideal for boundary-lubricated applications. Excellent for moderate to high loads and moderate speeds. Typical grades:
- C83600 (LG2, CDA 836, SAE 40) – 85-5-5-5 alloy. Excellent machinability and corrosion resistance. General purpose bushes, valves, and pump bearings.
- C93200 (SAE 660, CDA 932) – The most widely used bearing bronze. 83-7-7-3 alloy (Cu-Sn-Pb-Zn). Outstanding bearing performance; excellent for medium-to-heavy load, moderate speed applications. General engineering bushes.
- C93800 (SAE 67) – Higher lead content (14–18% Pb). Excellent for heavy-duty, low-speed, high-load applications where lubrication may be intermittent.
- C94300 (SAE 63) – Very high lead content. Used for extreme pressure boundary-lubricated conditions.
2. Phosphor Bronze Bushes (C90700, C91100, C90500)
Phosphor bronze offers superior strength, hardness, and fatigue resistance compared to leaded bronzes. Excellent for high-load, high-speed applications and where corrosion resistance is critical. Grades include:
- C90700 (CDA 907, SAE 65) – High tin (10–12% Sn), low lead. Strong, hard wearing. Used in heavy machinery, rolling mills, and high-pressure bearings.
- C90500 (Gun Metal, CDA 905) – 88-10-2 Cu-Sn-Zn. General purpose high-strength bushes with good corrosion resistance.
- C91100 – Very high tin (14–16% Sn). For extreme wear resistance and high unit loads.
3. Aluminium Bronze Bushes (C95400, C95500, C63000)
Aluminium bronze provides the highest strength of all bronze alloys, combined with outstanding corrosion resistance (especially in seawater, acids, and chemical environments) and excellent wear resistance. Ideal for heavy-duty, high-load applications in marine, offshore, mining, and chemical processing.
- C95400 (AB1, CDA 954, AMS 4872) – 85% Cu, 11% Al, 4% Fe. Standard aluminium bronze bush for high-load, abrasive, and corrosive environments.
- C95500 (AB2, CDA 955) – Higher strength (adds Ni). For extra-heavy duty bushes in steel mills, presses, mining, and marine applications.
- C63000 (CDA 630) – Wrought aluminium bronze for high-strength precision bushes.
4. Silicon Bronze Bushes (C87300, C87600)
Silicon bronzes provide excellent corrosion resistance, good strength, and are lead-free (suitable for potable water and food-grade applications). Used in chemical processing, marine, and low-friction bearing applications.
5. Manganese Bronze Bushes (C86300, C86400)
High-strength alloy with good wear resistance and moderate corrosion resistance. Used for heavy-duty bushes in construction equipment, marine, and structural applications where high compressive loads are present.
6. Bismuth Bronze / Lead-Free Bearing Bronzes (C89833, C83803)
Environmentally compliant lead-free and low-lead bearing bronzes for potable water systems, food processing equipment, California Prop 65, and RoHS/REACH compliance. Bismuth and selenium replace lead as lubricating additives without significant loss of machinability.
7. Centrifugally Cast Bronze Bushes
All of the above alloys can be produced as centrifugally cast bronze bushes, which offer the densest microstructure, best mechanical properties, and fewest defects. Centrifugal casting is the preferred process for cylindrical bronze bushes, particularly in larger sizes.
International Equivalent Grades for Bronze Bush Alloys
| UNS / CDA (USA) | Common Name | BS (UK) | EN (Europe) | DIN (Germany) | IS (India) | JIS (Japan) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C83600 | Leaded Red Brass / 85-5-5-5 | LG2 | CC491K | RG5 | IS 318 Gr.2 | CAC406 |
| C93200 | SAE 660 Bearing Bronze | LB2 | CC495K | GBz12Pb | IS 318 Gr.5 | CAC603 |
| C93800 | High Lead Tin Bronze | LB4 | CC496K | GBz20Pb | IS 318 Gr.7 | CAC605 |
| C90700 | Tin Bronze / Phosphor Bronze | PB2 | CC481K | GBz10 | IS 318 Gr.4 | CAC502 |
| C90500 | Gunmetal / G-Bronze | LG4 | CC490K | RG10 | IS 318 Gr.3 | CAC402 |
| C95400 | Aluminium Bronze AB1 | AB1 | CC331G | CuAl10Fe | IS 318 AB1 | CAC702 |
| C95500 | Aluminium Bronze AB2 | AB2 | CC333G | CuAl10Fe5Ni5 | IS 318 AB2 | CAC703 |
| C86300 | Manganese Bronze | HTB1 | CC765S | CuZn25Al5 | – | CAC301 |
| C89833 | Bismuth Bronze (Lead-Free) | – | CC499K | – | – | – |
Types of Bronze Bushes Supplied
Conex Casting manufactures bronze bushes in all standard forms and many special configurations:
- Plain Cylindrical (Sleeve) Bushes – Simple bore and OD; most common type. Pressed into housing to support rotating shaft.
- Flanged Bronze Bushes – With a flange at one or both ends for axial location and thrust load capacity. Widely used in gearboxes, pumps, and conveyors.
- Thrust Washers (Thrust Bushes) – Flat annular rings absorbing axial load. Often supplied as matched sets with sleeve bushes.
- Split / Half Bushes – Two half-cylinder bush shells for easy installation and replacement without shaft removal. Commonly used in large rotating machinery.
- Grooved Bushes (Oil-Groove Bushes) – Internal circumferential, helical, or crossed oil-distribution grooves machined for improved lubrication film distribution under load.
- Flanged Bushes with Oil Holes – Radial oil holes and internal oil grooves for forced-lubrication systems.
- Bi-metal Bushes – Steel-backed bronze bushes combining the load capacity of steel with the tribological properties of bronze. Common in heavy engines and compressors.
- Self-Lubricating Bronze Bushes – Oil-impregnated sintered bronze (porous bronze) or solid lubricant graphite-filled bronze for maintenance-free operation.
- Wrapped (Rolled) Bushes – Strip bronze rolled into cylindrical form. Cost-effective for high-volume, thinner-walled applications.
- Tapered / Stepped / Special Profile Bushes – Custom profiles including tapered bores, stepped ODs, and complex geometries to customer drawings.
Sizes and Dimensions of Bronze Bushes
We manufacture bronze bushes across a broad dimensional range:
| Parameter | Range |
|---|---|
| Inside Diameter (ID / Bore) | 10 mm to 1,200 mm |
| Outside Diameter (OD) | 15 mm to 1,500 mm |
| Length | 10 mm to 2,000 mm |
| Wall Thickness | 3 mm to 200 mm |
| Weight Range | 0.05 kg to 500 kg |
| Bore Tolerance | H7/H6 standard; custom on request |
| OD Tolerance | h6/p6 standard; custom on request |
| Surface Finish (Bore) | Ra 0.8–3.2 µm standard |
| Roundness / Cylindricity | Per ISO 1101; CMM verified |
Non-standard sizes and custom dimensions are our speciality. Send us your drawing or specify ID × OD × Length and we will quote promptly.
Applications of Machined Bronze Bushes
Bronze bushes are used in an enormous variety of machinery and equipment across virtually every industry. Typical applications include:
- Electric motor end shields and bearing housings
- Gearboxes, speed reducers, and power transmission equipment
- Hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders (piston rod guides, gland bushes)
- Centrifugal and positive displacement pumps (impeller wear rings, shaft bushes)
- Agricultural machinery: combines, tractors, and harvesting equipment
- Earthmoving and construction equipment: excavators, bulldozers, loaders
- Steel mill rolling mill equipment: roll neck bushes, housing bushes
- Marine propulsion: propeller shaft stern tube bushes, rudder pintles
- Ship deck machinery: winches, windlasses, and capstan bushes
- Offshore and subsea equipment: ROVs, subsea valves, and riser systems
- Mining equipment: crushers, conveyor drives, vibrating screens
- Printing and paper machinery: roll bushes and impression cylinder bearings
- Textile machinery: loom bearings and roller bushes
- Food processing equipment (lead-free alloys): mixers, conveyors, and filling machines
- Automotive: suspension bushes, steering gear bushes, and brake cam bushes
- Railway: bogie pivot bushes, brake hanger bushes, and coupling bushes
- Wind turbines: pitch and yaw bearing bushes
- General industrial: any plain bearing application requiring corrosion resistance or good machinability
Industries Served with Bronze Bushes
- Marine & Offshore – Stern tube bushes, rudder bushes, sea valve bushes, ROV components, and deck machinery bearings
- Oil & Gas – Wellhead bushes, valve stem guides, pump bearings, and downhole tool bushes
- Mining & Minerals – Crusher bearing bushes, conveyor bushes, drag-chain bushes, and vibrating screen bearings
- Steel & Metal Processing – Rolling mill roll neck bushes, continuous caster bushes, and forging press bearings
- Power Generation – Turbine guide vane bushes, feed pump bushes, and hydroelectric turbine bearings
- Water & Wastewater – Pump shaft bushes, valve stem guides, and gate spindle bushes
- Agricultural Equipment – Pivot bushes, linkage bearings, and PTO shaft bushes
- Construction & Earthmoving – Excavator pin bushes, loader arm bushes, and dozer track bushes
- Food & Beverage – Lead-free bearing bronze bushes for conveyors, mixers, and bottling machines
- Automotive & Transport – Suspension, steering, braking, and driveline bushes
- Railway & Tramway – Bogie, coupling, and brake system bushes
- Aerospace & Defence – Hydraulic actuator bushes and precision bearing components
- General Engineering – OEM and aftermarket replacement bushes for all types of industrial machinery
How to Select the Right Bronze Bush Alloy
| Application Condition | Recommended Bronze Alloy |
|---|---|
| General purpose, moderate load, good machinability needed | C93200 (SAE 660) or C83600 (LG2) |
| High load, low speed (boundary lubrication) | C93800 or C94300 (high lead bronzes) |
| High load, high speed (hydrodynamic lubrication) | C90700 (Phosphor Bronze PB2) |
| Maximum strength and corrosion resistance (marine, offshore) | C95400 or C95500 (Aluminium Bronze) |
| Seawater or aggressive chemical environment | C95400 Aluminium Bronze or C95800 |
| Potable water / food grade (lead-free required) | C89833 (Bismuth Bronze) or C87300 (Silicon Bronze) |
| High impact and shock loads | C86300 (Manganese Bronze) or C95500 |
| Maintenance-free / self-lubricating | Oilite (sintered bronze) or graphite-plug bronze |
Not sure which alloy to select? Our engineering team is available to advise on alloy selection for your specific application, load, speed, and environment. Contact us and we’ll help you specify correctly.
Manufacturing Process for Bronze Bushes at Conex Casting
Our bronze bushes are manufactured through a carefully controlled sequence of operations to ensure the highest quality:
- Alloy preparation – Verified by OES spectroscopic analysis before casting
- Casting – Centrifugal casting (preferred for cylindrical bushes), sand casting, or permanent mold casting depending on size and quantity
- Heat treatment – Where specified (especially for aluminium bronze)
- Rough turning – Removal of as-cast skin and major stock from OD and ID
- Finish CNC turning / boring – Achieving final bore and OD dimensions to specified tolerance
- Milling / drilling – Oil holes, keyways, flats, and other features
- Grooving – Internal oil grooves (circumferential, helical, or custom patterns)
- Grinding – For precision-ground OD or bore where tighter tolerances are required
- Honing – For ultra-fine bore finishes (Ra 0.4–0.8 µm)
- Inspection – Dimensional, visual, and material inspection; CMM for critical dimensions
- Marking, packing, and dispatch – Individually identified and packed to prevent damage in transit
Frequently Asked Questions – Bronze Bushes
Q1: What alloy is best for a general-purpose bronze bush?
C93200 (SAE 660) is the most widely used general-purpose bearing bronze, offering an excellent balance of load capacity, machinability, and cost. For applications requiring more corrosion resistance, C83600 (LG2) is a good alternative. For heavy-duty or marine applications, aluminium bronze C95400 is the preferred choice.
Q2: What is the difference between a bronze bush and a bronze bushing?
“Bush” and “bushing” are interchangeable terms for the same component – a cylindrical plain bearing element used to support a shaft or pin. “Bush” is the term more commonly used in British English, while “bushing” is more common in American English. Both refer to the same product.
Q3: Can you supply bronze bushes in aluminium bronze for marine applications?
Yes. We regularly supply C95400 and C95500 aluminium bronze bushes for marine applications including stern tube bushes, rudder bushes, propeller shaft bearings, and sea valve guides. Aluminium bronze is the preferred material for continuous seawater immersion due to its outstanding corrosion resistance and high strength.
Q4: What are oil-groove patterns available for machined bronze bushes?
We machine oil grooves in many patterns depending on the lubrication regime and application: single circumferential groove at mid-length, double end grooves, helical grooves, cross-hatch grooves, and custom patterns to customer specification. Radial oil holes can also be drilled to interface with housing oil supply ports.
Q5: What is the minimum bore size you can machine in a bronze bush?
We can machine bore diameters from 10 mm upwards. For very small bores (below 15 mm), machining stock and wall thickness constraints may apply. Please contact us with your required ID, OD, and length for a feasibility assessment and quotation.
Q6: Do you supply flanged bronze bushes?
Yes. Flanged bronze bushes are one of our most commonly supplied products. Single-flanged and double-flanged configurations are available in all alloys and all sizes. Flange diameter, flange thickness, and any drilling or grooving of the flange face can be customised to your drawing.
Q7: Can you produce bronze bushes to DIN, BS, ISO, or ASTM standards?
Yes. We produce bronze bushes to all major international standards including ASTM B271, ASTM B505, BS 1400, EN 1982, DIN 1705, IS 318, JIS H5111, and many others. Material test reports (MTR) can be provided with all orders.
Q8: What is the maximum size bronze bush you can produce?
We produce bronze bushes up to 1,500 mm OD and 2,000 mm length using our large centrifugal casting and CNC turning capabilities. For very large one-off bushes, sand casting followed by CNC machining is typically used.
Q9: Can I get lead-free bronze bushes for food or drinking water applications?
Yes. We supply lead-free and low-lead bronze bushes in C89833 (bismuth-selenium bronze), C87300 (silicon bronze), and C83803 (low-lead red brass) for potable water, food processing, pharmaceutical, and California Prop 65 / NSF 61 compliant applications.
Q10: What is the typical lead time for machined bronze bushes?
Lead times depend on alloy, size, quantity, and whether new casting tooling is required. For standard alloys on existing tooling, typical lead time is 2–4 weeks ex-works. For new tooling or unusual sizes, 4–8 weeks is typical. Urgency can often be accommodated – contact us to discuss your requirement.
Q11: Do you supply anti-corrosion coatings on bronze bushes?
Bronze bushes are inherently corrosion-resistant and normally supplied as-machined. However, we can arrange tin plating, nickel plating, or other protective coatings for specific environmental or compatibility requirements on request.
Q12: What is your quality control process for bronze bushes?
Every bronze bush undergoes dimensional inspection before dispatch, including bore diameter, OD, length, squareness, and roundness checks. Material traceability is maintained throughout production. For critical applications, CMM inspection reports, hardness testing, and third-party inspection (SGS, Bureau Veritas, TUV) can be arranged.
Q13: Can you reproduce worn or damaged bronze bushes from a sample?
Yes. Reverse engineering of worn or damaged bronze bushes is one of our specialities. We can measure a sample (even a worn one) and produce replacement bushes to the original dimensions. If you can provide a sample, photos, or key dimensions, we can create a drawing and quotation for you.
Q14: What is the difference between centrifugally cast and sand-cast bronze bushes?
Centrifugal casting produces bushes with a finer, denser microstructure by spinning the mold during casting. This eliminates porosity, produces superior mechanical properties, and gives better dimensional consistency – making it the preferred method for cylindrical bush forms. Sand casting is used for larger or more complex shapes but produces slightly coarser microstructure. Both processes are available at Conex Casting.
Why Choose Conex Casting for Bronze Bushes?
- All major bronze alloys available in-house – no subcontracting delays
- Centrifugal, sand, permanent mold, and investment casting capabilities
- Full CNC machining facility: turning, boring, milling, drilling, grinding, honing
- Bronze bushes from 10 mm to 1,500 mm bore diameter
- All standard bush types: plain, flanged, grooved, split, thrust, and custom
- ISO 9001 certified quality management; material test reports with every order
- Competitive Indian foundry pricing with fast global delivery
- Technical advisory service for alloy selection and design optimisation
- Minimum order quantity of 1 piece for non-standard items
- 24-hour quotation response on receipt of drawings or specifications
Get a Quote for Machined Bronze Bushes
Whether you need a single replacement bush or thousands of precision-machined bronze bushings for an OEM programme, Conex Casting is your partner for bronze bush manufacture. Tell us your required alloy, bore, OD, length, quantity, and any special features – and we will respond with a competitive quotation within 24 hours.
Contact Conex Casting today for expert advice and a competitive quote on machined bronze bushes in any alloy, any size.