Brass vs Bronze Bushings: Which Do You Need?

Q: What brass does DBM carry?

C37700 forging brass is the brass DBM carries. It is designed for hot forging, with good machinability, and shows up in valve stems, plumbing fittings, and hardware rather than in bearing service. DBM's standard bushing catalog is bronze: cast C93200 (SAE 660) and sintered SAE 841.

Different alloys, different jobs.

Brass is a copper-zinc alloy built first for machining and forming. Bronze covers the copper-tin family plus the aluminum and manganese bronzes, and the bearing grades are formulated to run under load against a steel shaft. For a bushing that carries sustained radial or thrust load, bronze is almost always the answer: cast C93200 (SAE 660) where external lubrication is available, or self-lubricating sintered SAE 841 where it is not. Brass earns its place in light-duty, low-load parts where machinability and cost lead the decision.

The Difference in One Minute

Both are copper alloys, and the names get mixed constantly in catalogs and search results. The chemistry is the clean dividing line. Brass alloys pair copper with zinc; they machine fast, form well, and cost less. Bronze alloys pair copper with tin, aluminum, or manganese; the bearing bronzes among them are engineered for wear surfaces, embedding grit harmlessly and running smoothly against steel.

What that means at the bushing level: a brass part is usually the economical machined component, and a bronze part is usually the bearing. If the shaft turns, oscillates, or thrusts against it for hours at a time, the material that was designed for that duty is bronze. The full chemistry and property data for both families is in the Bronze Alloy Reference.

When Each One Makes Sense

Brass: machined parts, light duty

Intermittent motion at light loads and low speeds
Spacers, guides, and hardware where wear is minor
Parts driven by machining cost rather than bearing life
Valve stems, plumbing fittings, and forged hardware

C37700 forging brass is the brass DBM carries: designed for hot forging, with good machinability.

Bronze: bearing service

Sustained radial load on rotating or oscillating shafts
Thrust faces and pivot points
Cast C93200 (SAE 660) for higher loads and speeds, with external lubrication
Sintered SAE 841 for self-lubricating, maintenance-free service

Standard dimensions for both lines are on the bronze bushing size chart.

Searching for Flanged Brass Bushings?

Most buyers who search for brass bushings, flanged brass bushings, or brass sleeve bearings are sizing a part for bearing duty, and the parts built for that duty are bronze. DBM's standard flanged line is oil-impregnated sintered SAE 841 with an integral flange, and the sleeve lines run cast C93200 (SAE 660) and sintered SAE 841. If the print genuinely calls for brass, DBM machines C37700 to spec; send the drawing and we will quote it either way.

Brass vs Bronze FAQs

Are brass and bronze bushings the same thing?

No. Brass is a copper-zinc alloy; bronze covers the copper-tin family plus the aluminum and manganese bronzes. The names get mixed in catalogs and search results, but the materials behave differently: bearing bronzes are formulated to run under load against a steel shaft, while brasses are formulated first for machining and forming.

Can I use a brass bushing instead of a bronze bushing?

For light duty, low speed, and intermittent motion, a brass bushing can serve. For sustained radial or thrust load on a rotating or oscillating shaft, spec a bearing bronze: cast C93200 (SAE 660) with external lubrication, or self-lubricating sintered SAE 841. If you are unsure, send the application details and we will tell you straight which one the job needs.

What brass does DBM carry?

Which bronze bushing should I start with?

Start with the load and the lubrication plan. Cast C93200 (SAE 660) handles higher loads and speeds and requires external lubrication. Sintered SAE 841 is oil-impregnated and maintenance-free, suited to lighter loads where nobody will re-lubricate. Standard dimensions for both are on the bronze bushing size chart.

Not Sure Which Way to Go?

Send the application details or the print. We work with these materials every day and will point you to the right one. Most standard items quote same day.

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