95061-161 – Piper Aircraft OEM Main Gear Torque Link Bushing
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Overview
The 95061-161 is a flight-critical, genuine Piper Aircraft Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) bushing, engineered for the high-stress pivot points of the main landing gear torque link (or "scissors") assembly. This is not a simple spacer; it is a precision-machined sleeve bearing designed to function as a sacrificial wear component. Its primary purpose is to provide a low-friction bearing surface for the torque link bolts, absorbing the wear from the constant pivoting motion of the landing gear during taxi, takeoff, and landing.
This bushing is manufactured from a high-quality bearing bronze alloy, specifically chosen for its excellent strength and tribological (anti-friction and anti-wear) properties. By design, this bushing wears over time, protecting the much more expensive and difficult-to-replace forged aluminum or steel torque link arms from elongation and damage. Using the genuine Piper OEM part is the only way to ensure the correct material and dimensions for this critical landing gear application.
Key Features
Genuine Piper Aircraft OEM Part: Guarantees the part is fabricated to the exact Piper engineering drawing for material, dimensions, and press-fit tolerances.
Sacrificial Wear Component: Intentionally designed to be the primary wear item in the torque link assembly, protecting the main structural components from wear.
High-Quality Bearing Bronze Alloy: Manufactured from a specific bronze alloy (such as SAE 660) that provides high compressive strength, corrosion resistance, and a low coefficient of friction.
For Main Gear Torque Links: The specified bushing for the main landing gear scissors assembly on a wide range of popular Piper aircraft.
Reduces Friction and Wear: Provides a smooth, replaceable bearing surface for the pivot bolts, ensuring free movement of the landing gear linkage.
Ensures Proper Gear Alignment/Prevents Shimmy: Critical for maintaining the tight tolerances required to prevent instability and shimmy in the main landing gear.
Flight-Critical Landing Gear Part: The integrity of the torque link assembly is essential for safe ground operations and landings.
Technical Specifications
Part Number: 95061-161 (sometimes listed as 95061-00-161)
Component Type: Bushing / Sleeve Bearing
OEM Authority: Piper Aircraft
Application: Main Landing Gear Torque Link (Scissors Link)
Material: Bronze Alloy (per Piper specification). Must be confirmed by Piper documentation.
Dimensions (ID, OD, Length): Per Piper Engineering Drawing 95061. These are precision dimensions for a press-fit installation.
Governing Specification: Piper Aircraft Engineering Drawing 95061.
Aircraft Compatibility
This OEM torque link bushing is a standard component for the main landing gear on a vast fleet of Piper's most successful single and twin-engine aircraft.
Primary Piper Aircraft Platforms:
PA-28 Series (Cherokee, Warrior, Archer, Arrow, Dakota)
PA-32 Series (Cherokee Six, Lance, Saratoga)
PA-34 Seneca
PA-44 Seminole
Note: Verification of applicability is the absolute responsibility of the installer. The aircraft's current Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC) for its specific serial number is the final authority for confirming part number eligibility.
Applications
Sole Application: To be press-fit into the hinge points of the main landing gear torque link arms to serve as the pivot bearing for the assembly's connecting bolts.
Why Choose 95061-161?
The landing gear is subjected to some of the highest dynamic loads of any part of the airframe. Excessive play or "slop" in the torque links, caused by worn bushings, can lead to severe wheel shimmy, loss of directional control, and potential landing gear collapse. The genuine Piper OEM 95061-161 bushing is the only part guaranteed to be made from the correct bronze alloy with the precise outer diameter for a proper interference fit into the torque link forging. Using a non-certified bushing made from an incorrect or softer material can lead to rapid wear, joint failure, or damage to the torque link itself.
The 95061-161 bushing exemplifies the critical role of plain bearings in aerospace mechanisms. Operating under the relatively low-speed, high-load, oscillating conditions of a landing gear torque link, a plain bronze bushing offers several advantages over rolling element bearings. It provides a much larger contact area, distributing the load over a greater surface and offering superior resistance to the high impact loads and static indentation (brinelling) that can damage ball bearings. Bearing bronze (typically C93200 / SAE 660 leaded-tin bronze) is specifically chosen for its tribological properties. The lead phase within the bronze matrix acts as a solid lubricant, smearing onto the mating surfaces to reduce friction and prevent galling, especially crucial if the grease applied during assembly is eventually displaced. Furthermore, bronze exhibits excellent embeddability, meaning small contaminant particles can become harmlessly embedded in the softer bearing surface rather than scoring the harder steel pivot bolt. This combination of load capacity, low friction, and contamination resistance makes the precision bronze bushing the optimal engineering solution for this demanding landing gear application.
Note: This is a flight-critical landing gear component. It is a wear item and must be inspected for excessive play in accordance with the aircraft maintenance manual. Removal of the old bushing and installation of the new one is a press-fit operation that requires the correct-sized arbors and a hydraulic press. This work must be performed by a certified A&P mechanic. After installation, the bushing must be reamed to its final, precise inside diameter to ensure a perfect fit for the pivot bolt.
Documentation
No public-facing OEM or regulatory documentation was located for this specific part number. All technical data, installation procedures, reaming specifications, and wear limits for the 95061-161 bushing are proprietary to Piper Aircraft and are contained within the official Maintenance Manual and Illustrated Parts Catalog for the applicable aircraft model.