I notice my A-727 has a bronze front pump bushing. ATi Installation instructions for their torque converter say it must be replaced with babbit-type bushing. Anybody know why, or have any problems having not done this? I found two Moparts threads on how to replace the bushing, but I'm not doing it myself.

The babbit bushing is softer and protects the impeller hub.

Babbitt has better comformability and absorbs debris where brass is harder and works like a polishing stone with the presence of debris.

That seems logical. And nice to have. But is it really necessary? I have a clean, fresh trans with a deep pan, new filter, drain plug...

Nope, not necessary.

Unless you need ATI to warranty the converter.

Don’t argue with GeeTar .... he’s an Xpert on broken verts !

Easy job. Pump has to come out and be taken apart. $5 part.

Aftermarket converters don't have a hardened hub like the factory converters. Bronze needs an almost file hard surface if it is to last for a long period of time. If you want to send your converter in for a new hub in a year or so, keep the bronze bushing, if you want it to last for years then get the babbit bushing installed. Seen many converters with big grooves worn in them from bronze bushings. I bought my Demon with a terrible trans leak in 1990. Hub had a .045 groove worn into it and actually pulled the bushing out of the housing and up against the seal, which caused a massive leak. 8000+ passes later I have never seen a worn hub on the demons converter. Plenty of cracked pilots,and hubs, broken mechanical diodes, starter ring completley explode off of the converter, etc., but no grooves worn in the hub from the bushing.