Plain Bushing Bearing & Sleeve Bushing Bearing Provider

As a bushing bearing supplier AST Bearings offers a variety of metal bushings including brass bushings, steel bushing, & bronze bushings. If you already know which type of metal bushing is right for your application, you can quickly navigate to it below for more information:

AST's bushings fall into three main categories based on material and lubrication method:

• Metallic Self-Lubricating Bushings – Cast bronze, sintered bronze, or bronze-wrapped steel bushings embedded with solid lubricants for high load capacity and low friction.
• Composite Self-Lubricating Bushings – Metal-backed bushings lined with PTFE or thermoplastic polymer for low-friction, maintenance-free performance, including filament-wound composite options for high-impact-load applications.
• Plastic Compound Bushings – Injection-molded polymer bushings offering a lightweight, corrosion-resistant, cost-effective alternative to metal.

Explore each category above for full specifications, or view our online bushing catalog for CAD models and dimensional data.

What is a sleeve bushing?

A sleeve bushing (also called a plain or sleeve bearing) is a single-piece cylindrical component that allows sliding motion between two surfaces without rolling elements. Selected based on load and velocity, sleeve bushings can be made from metal, plastic, or composite materials and often run maintenance-free without added lubrication.

What is the difference between a bushing and a bearing?

Bushings (plain bearings) consist of a single part that supports sliding motion, while rolling-element bearings use balls or rollers to reduce friction. Bushings are typically simpler, more compact, and better suited to lower speeds and higher loads, while bearings often perform better at higher rotational speeds.

What materials are bushings made from?

Bushings are generally metallic, composite, or plastic. Metallic self-lubricating bushings use bronze or steel embedded with solid lubricants; composite bushings combine metal backing with PTFE or thermoplastic linings; plastic compound bushings use injection-molded polymers. AST Bearings supplies all three types across thousands of models.

Do sleeve bushings need lubrication?

Many sleeve bushings are designed to be maintenance-free. Self-lubricating bushings contain embedded solid lubricants or oil-impregnated porous linings, allowing them to run dry without added grease. Standard metal bushings, however, may still require supplemental lubrication depending on load, speed, and operating conditions.

Who supplies sleeve bushings and plain bearings?

AST Bearings supplies sleeve bushings and plain bearings, offering more than 3,000 models in metallic, composite, and plastic compound materials. Founded in 1963 and ISO 9001:2015 certified, AST supports OEMs and distributors across industries including aerospace, medical, food & beverage, robotics, and industrial equipment.