What Is a Bush Bearing & What are the Different Types?

source: liveabout

A vehicle is a complicated engineering work. Multiple aspects and parts work in unison to ensure their movement. One such element is a bush bearing, which is a major requirement for manufacturing most vehicles. It is probably one of the simplest forms of bearings and is popular for being solid and last lasting. 

Want to learn more about bush bearing? 

Keep reading this article to get a comprehensive guide on this element. 

Also known as a bushing or bush, bush bearing is one of the classic types of independent plain bearings. This mechanical component is designed to provide a bearing surface for rotary applications in vehicles. There is usually friction taking place between the stationary supporting elements and spinning shafts. Bush bearings help reduce this friction. 

These bearings do not comprise any rolling elements. A circular hole is created in its block or body, and a bush is usually fitted in this space. Then, the bearing is capable of providing support to the rotating shaft. 

Now that you know what bush bearing is, it can be helpful to learn about various parts and materials that contribute to its creation. Here are the three parts used in a bush bearing:

Body or block

As the name suggests, this is the main part of a bearing. A bush bearing’s body is usually made of cast iron (CI). Shafts, on the other hand, are made of mild steel. As CI is harder than steel, shafts are likely to wear as the body keeps moving relative to the friction. This leads to a recess in this body while the vehicle operates. 

As a result, the vehicle experiences a vibration, which creates a noise within the system. This can cause the shaft to break eventually. Having a bush fitted into the block's hole helps avoid this problem.

Bush

It is a hollow cylinder, again an integral part of a bearing. The hole in the body should be equal to the outer diameter and length of a bush. On the other hand, its inner diameter should be the same as the shaft’s diameter. This bush is hammered into the bearing’s body and fitted in there. 

The material of a bush often includes gun metal, brass, or other bearing metal. It is likely to wear out easily due to the constant motion between shafts and bushes. Moreover, the bush is made of soft materials. Then, a new bush replaces the old one.

Oil Hole

The third part of a bearing is an oil hole used for lubrication. When vehicles move, there is constant friction between shafts, body, and the bush, which leads to wear and tear within the parts. The oil lubrication in this hole helps to reduce friction, which, in turn, reduces the vehicle's wear.

An oil hole is created first in the bush and the body’s upper part. The lubricating oil is placed in there on the flax. This oil reaches throughout the hole, lubricating it. Moreover, holes are also made in the bolt’s base. This helps to fit it into a bracket or foundation.

Now that you have a basic understanding of bush bearing, it will be helpful to learn more about it for a comprehensive understanding. Here are the different types of bush bearing that you will currently find in the market:

Sleeve Bush Bearings

Such bush bearings have the role of facilitating linear or rotational movement between two parts. These come with a sliding action, unlike the rolling actions of ball bearings. People often use them as self-lubricating components to ensure smooth movements. 

Adding lubrication sleeve bearings can help with great wear resistance with a low coefficient of friction. People often prefer these as they are affordable and require low maintenance.

Flanged Bush Bearings

As the name suggests, this type of bush bearing displays a flange. Their design supports heavy loads in vehicles. These are bronze sintered bearings infused with oil. Generally, people use such bearings at lighter loads and slower speeds compared to other bearings, as they are not capable of handling heavy loads. While functioning, such bearings allow the mating shaft to slide freely within a bushing.

Split Bush Bearing

Such bearings are commonly used within heavy equipment or load, as they help to reduce friction on the shafts. There is a split in the material, which makes it easier for the users to install such bearings. Unlike other bearings, there is no requirement for altering the sizes of other materials during the uninstallation of split bearings. They also support shaft size change if necessary, thereby reducing handling issues.

While bush bearings have a primary role as vehicle parts, their uses are immense when it comes to vehicle manufacturing and engineering. Listed below are the uses of a bush bearing in various aspects.

Vehicles Testing

As mentioned already, one of the primary uses of a bush bearing is in terms of automobile manufacturing and engineering. When testing the equipment of a vehicle, bushings serve as a frictionless alternative with tightening tolerance requirements of vehicle manufacturing. Their application depends on automotive component integrity, vehicle operations, etc.

Automotive Manufacturing

The bushings have no moving parts, so they do not contribute to errors caused by vibration or heat within a vehicle. Thus, they can improve the performances of various parts of a vehicle in terms of vibration, noise, torque, frame integrity, etc. 

Damage Control

Most people use bush bearings to control and reduce the damages and wear that develop in a vehicle due to years of usage. Shafts start wearing out as they are constantly rubbing directly against the seat hole. Bush bearings act as a layer of wear-resistant graphite, which prevents this constant friction and, in turn, prevents damage to the shaft. 

Hopefully, that gives you a clearer understanding of the concept of a bush bearing and its relevance in vehicle manufacturing and engineering. As this article pointed out, it is essential to use such bearings to avoid damage and wear in the parts and elements inside a vehicle. Moreover, these bearings are easily available at an affordable price.