SKF PCM and PWM friction bushings

In PCM 050705 E the letters identify a cylindrical bushing, and the six digits, read in pairs, give the bore, the outside diameter and the length in millimeters. PCMF 060804 E adds an F for the flanged version. PCMW 122401.5 E is a thrust washer, where the digits give bore, outside diameter and thickness.

The last letter tells you the sliding layer material: PCM 081012 M and a PCM ending in E share the same shape but are not equivalent. PWM 202415 is a different bushing family with a thicker wall, still with three dimensions in its six digits. Whatever the code, copy the letters along with the numbers.

A thin-wall bushing takes its final shape when it is pressed into the housing, so the housing bore and the shaft have to be within the manufacturer's tolerance; together they set the running clearance. Shaft finish matters too, because a rough shaft wears through the sliding layer quickly.

These bushings handle heavy loads at low speed and back-and-forth motion, conditions that would mark a rolling bearing. They are not meant for continuous high-speed rotation. Lubrication also varies by material: some run dry, others need grease at assembly or regreasing in service, so stay with the material from the original design.

Send the full designation and the quantity. If there is no code, measure the shaft diameter, the housing diameter and the bushing length, and say whether it has a flange. Tell us the type of motion, the approximate load, whether the point is greased and its temperature. A photo of the removed bushing shows what the inner layer is made of.