More friction

Deal with minor misalignments

Not intended to take much lateral force

Bearing design allows for easier management of heavy and high loads and axial loads and forces

Common bushing materials are bronze, alloys, graphite, stainless steel, and similar heavy-duty metals

Smoother motion than bushings

Impregnated with oil for lubrication to become self-lubricating

Built with tighter tolerances for a tighter fit

More cost-effective than many linear ball bearings, roller ball bearings, rolling element bearings, and journal bearings.

Available in various materials, which means you can purchase plastic bearings, steel bearings with corrosion resistance, and ceramic bearings.

Quieter than ball bearings at low speeds and high speeds.

Linear ball bearings can only be used on hardened shafts

Can be used on hardened or non-hardened shafts

The linear type of bearing must be used with hardened shafts like chrome-plated.

Bushings, like drill bushings, generally require less maintenance than linear ball bearings

You must lubricate the shaft periodically and perform maintenance to avoid contaminants

They must overcome static high and low friction forces on moving parts

Can lose their smooth motion, resulting in increased noise and jamming

Wider tolerances that can negatively impact the fit on smooth rods

Require more maintenance than bushings