Dura-Bond Bearing Company

What Dura-Bond Bearing Company does

Dura-Bond Bearing Company is a US-based aftermarket manufacturer of engine and transmission components, founded in 1947 in Palo Alto, California by Francis R. Burke and currently operating from an 85,000-square-foot facility at 3200 Arrowhead Drive in Carson City, Nevada. The company's core technology is proprietary lead-based babbitt material bonded to seamless steel tube, combined with centerless OD grinding and centerless ID boring processes that produce wall variation tolerances of .0004–.0005 inches — which Dura-Bond positions as industry-leading. Its product portfolio spans full round cam bearings, half shell bearings, high-performance/racing bearings, powder metal and copper-infiltrated valve seats, valve spring shims, engine hardware, and (since 2012) transmission bushing kits and full round babbitt, bronze, coated and semi-finished bushings, supported by cam bearing installation tools including a proprietary Quick Boring System.

The company monetizes primarily through quote-based hardware sales, with no public pricing. Distribution runs through a network of US aftermarket distributors (Transtar Industries, WIT Transmission Parts, Stellar Automotive Group, King-O-Matic, Natpro, Summit Racing) plus a direct e-commerce channel with parts search and quote-request functionality. End customers are professional engine and transmission rebuilders, with secondary exposure to high-performance/racing and OEM service-part applications. Industry association memberships (AERA, Auto Care Association, PERA, SEMA, Car Care Council) and a deep technical resource library (installation guides, conversion charts, oil-hole bulletins, webinars) form the core of its go-to-market.

Dura-Bond operates as part of the Melling family of companies following Melling Engine Parts' 2000 acquisition; ownership transferred to DBB Acquisition LLC in 2015. Current President/Owner is Charles Barnett. The company holds ISO 9001 certification (since 1999) and Oliver Wight Class A MRP II certification (since 1999), manufactures exclusively in the United States, and has no disclosed AI, software, or platform products.

Name

Dura-Bond Bearing Company

Legal name

Dura-Bond Bearing Company

Website

https://dura-bondbearing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dura-Bond Bearing Company is a US-based aftermarket manufacturer of precision engine bearings, valve seats, valve spring shims, and transmission bushings serving professional engine and transmission rebuilders through distributor networks and direct sales since 1947.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Engine Bearings & Aftermarket Engine Components

NAICS

Ball and Roller Bearing Manufacturing (332991)

SIC

Ball & Roller Bearings (3562)

akta.pro primary industry

Aftermarket Drivetrain & Powertrain Components Manufacturing (Clutches/CV Axles/Alternators/Starters) (IMACANAD)

Keywords

• Engine bearings
• Transmission bushings
• Aftermarket engine parts
• Powder metal valve seats
• High-performance bearings

Headquarters

HQ city

Carson City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Engine Aftermarket Parts Sales: Sale of aftermarket engine components including cam bearings, full round bearings, half shell bearings, valve seats, valve spring shims, and engine hardware to engine rebuilders and distributors.
2. Transmission Aftermarket Parts Sales: Sale of transmission bushing kits and individual bushings including full round babbitt bushings, bronze bushings, coated bushings, and semi-finished bushings for transmission rebuilds.
3. Custom Manufacturing Services: Custom design, engineering and manufacturing of bearings and bushings for specific project requirements, including special small run bearings for prototype or block salvage applications.
4. Cam Bearing Tools: Sale of cam bearing installation tools including driver bars, expanders, mandrel sleeves, and the Quick Boring System for aluminum cylinder head rebuilding.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Dura-Bond Bearing Company manufactures aftermarket engine and transmission bearings and bushings, producing full round bearings, half shell bearings, high-performance bearings, powder metal valve seats, valve spring shims, engine hardware, and bushing kits. The company supplies engine rebuilders, transmission rebuilders, OEMs, and the racing/high-performance market with ISO 9001 certified components.

Product overview

Dura-Bond Bearing Company is a manufacturer of aftermarket engine and transmission components, operating as a single-product company with a focused portfolio of bearing and bushing solutions rather than a platform architecture. The core engine product line includes Full Round Bearings (cam bearings/bushings), High Performance Bearings for racing, Half Shell Bearings, Powder Metal Valve Seats, Valve Spring Shims, Engine Hardware, and Engine Hardware Finishing Kits. Engine-related offerings are complemented by Cam Bearing Tools including the Quick Bore System for aluminum cylinder head service. The transmission product line, entered in 2012, centers on Bushing Kits and includes Full Round Babbitt Bushings, Bronze Bushings, Coated Bushings, Dry Film Lubricant Coating, Bushings with Indents, and Semi-Finished Bushings. All products share common manufacturing attributes: seamless steel construction with babbitt material lining, precision centerless grinding, and tight tolerances. Custom Capabilities services allow customers to request bespoke bearings and bushings for specific project requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Full Round Bearings Complete circular engine bearings used in engine rebuild and overhaul applications for professional engine remanufacturers.
• Half Shell Bearings

Quantifiable outcome

• Wall variations of .0004 in. for cam bearings - tightest tolerances in industry
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Transtar Industries, Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor transmission parts distributor carrying Dura-Bond transmission bushings and bushing kits. Listed as a partner for availability inquiries on the transmission products page.
• WIT Transmission PartscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWhatever It Takes Transmission Parts - authorized distributor of Dura-Bond transmission products. Listed as a contact partner for product availability.
• Stellar Automotive GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAutomotive aftermarket distributor partner for Dura-Bond products. Listed as a partner for availability inquiries.
• King-O-MaticcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransmission parts specialist distributor carrying Dura-Bond transmission bushings. Listed as a partner for product availability.
• NatprominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransmission and power train components distributor partner for Dura-Bond products.
• Summit RacingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHigh-performance automotive parts retailer and distributor carrying Dura-Bond engine and transmission products for the enthusiast market.
• Melling Engine PartscoreOthersMelling Engine Parts acquired Dura-Bond in 2000. Dura-Bond operates as part of the Melling family of companies.
• AERA Engine Builders AssociationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerActive corporate member of the Automotive Engine Rebuilders Association. AERA logo displayed on website indicating membership and industry collaboration.
• Auto Care AssociationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerActive member of the Auto Care Association, the automotive aftermarket industry trade association.
• SEMAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerActive member of the Specialty Equipment Market Association, the trade association for automotive aftermarket manufacturers and retailers.
• PERAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerActive member of the Powertrain Equipment Representatives Association.
• Car Care CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember of the Car Care Council, an industry organization promoting vehicle maintenance awareness.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• King Engine Bearings: King Engine Bearings manufactures engine bearings (including high-performance and racing lines) for the automotive aftermarket and is one of Dura-Bond's most direct competitors in the cam and connecting-rod bearing space.
• ACL Race Series: ACL is a specialist engine bearing manufacturer with strong positioning in high-performance and racing applications, directly competing with Dura-Bond's High Performance Bearings line.
• Sonnax: Sonnax is a leading manufacturer of aftermarket transmission parts and bushings, directly comparable to Dura-Bond's transmission bushing kits and serving the same transmission rebuild channel.
• Precision International: Precision International manufactures transmission overhaul kits, bushings, and converter components for the transmission rebuild aftermarket, directly overlapping with Dura-Bond's transmission bushing product line.
• Cal Engine Bearings: Cal Engine Bearings is an aftermarket engine bearing manufacturer focused on performance and racing applications, competing head-to-head with Dura-Bond's HP bearings for the same rebuilder customer base.

Broad incumbents

• MAHLE Aftermarket (Clevite): MAHLE's Clevite brand is a historic leader in engine bearings, supplying both OE and aftermarket with global manufacturing scale and significantly broader product portfolio than Dura-Bond.
• Melling Engine Parts: Melling is Dura-Bond's former parent (acquired Dura-Bond in 2000) and a broader automotive aftermarket manufacturer of engine parts including timing components, oil pumps, and gaskets, making it a directly comparable sibling business.
• Federal-Mogul (Tenneco / DRiV): Federal-Mogul historically produced engine bearings (including Glacier Vandervell) and broader powertrain components for both OE and aftermarket, representing a large incumbent competing across many of Dura-Bond's categories.
• Daido Metal: Daido Metal is a large global manufacturer of bearings (plain and engine bearings) serving both OE and aftermarket, representing a global incumbent competitor with significant scale advantages.

Others

• Transtar Industries: Transtar is a major transmission parts distributor and Dura-Bond channel partner. It is included as an ecosystem/adjacent player rather than direct competitor since it distributes rather than manufactures competing bushings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dura-Bond Bearing Company