Bushing is a type of bearing made up of a cylindrical piece of metal or plastic that is placed between two moving parts to reduce friction and wear. In an RC car, bushings are often used in place of more expensive ball bearings, particularly in entry-level or budget-friendly models.
While bushings can be an effective and affordable alternative to ball bearings, they do have some limitations. They typically don’t provide the same level of precision and smoothness as ball bearings, and may wear out more quickly over time. Additionally, bushings may not be suitable for high-speed or high-performance RC cars, where more advanced bearing systems may be required to handle the demands of racing or aggressive driving.
Brass bushings were commonly found in vintage Kyosho / AYK cars.
Plastic bushings are common among Tamiya cars. The problem with plastic is that it can deform easily under high speed (and therefore high heat).
This video compares their real life performance. Plastic bushings seem to allow for a much smoother and quieter drive train.
