What Is Line Boring?
The Key to Cost-Effective Heavy Equipment Repair
If you work with heavy machinery in mining, construction, or transport, you've likely heard of line boring. But what is line boring, and why is it a critical part of heavy equipment maintenance?
In this article, we break down what line boring is, how it works, and why choosing the right provider—like NLC Engineering—makes all the difference when it comes to uptime, cost, and performance.
What Is Line Boring?
Line boring is a precision machining process used to restore worn or misaligned bores (holes) in heavy machinery. These bores house pins, shafts, or bushings and are found in key pivot points such as loader arms, excavator buckets, truck suspensions, and dozer blades.
Over time, due to vibration, heavy loads, and repetitive motion, these bores can become elongated, misaligned, or oversized. Left unchecked, this can cause:
Equipment misalignment
Excessive pin wear
Poor machine performance
Costly failures
Line boring restores these bores to correct size and alignment—either to OEM specifications or to an engineered repair size—using highly accurate portable machining equipment.
How Line Boring Works
The typical line boring process involves:
Inspection – Technicians assess the wear and take accurate bore measurements.
Setup – A boring bar is mounted and aligned precisely to the bore centerline.
Machining – The worn bore is cut back to a perfectly round and aligned size.
Welding or Sleeving (if needed) – Worn areas may be built up with weld or fitted with sleeves.
Final Measurement – The bore is checked to ensure it meets exact tolerances.
Why Line Boring Is Essential for Heavy Equipment
Using professional line boring services brings several key benefits:
✅ Minimise Downtime – On-site or mobile repairs mean less disruption to your operations.
✅ Save Money – Repairing components is often far cheaper than replacing them.
✅ Extend Equipment Life – Properly aligned bores reduce wear and improve machine longevity.
✅ Improve Safety – Precision-machined joints reduce mechanical stress and ensure stable operation.
Common Applications for Line Boring
Bucket bores and pin bosses on excavators and loaders
Bulldozer blade hinges
Haul truck chassis and suspension mounts
Centre hitches on articulated machines
Cylinder mounts and large press frames
Why Choose NLC Engineering for Line Boring?
When it comes to line boring in Western Australia, NLC Engineering is the clear leader. Here’s why we’re the go-to provider for mining, civil, and construction businesses across the Goldfields and beyond.
✅ Largest Line Boring Provider in the Goldfields
We operate 5 fully equipped mobile line boring units and multiple workshop-based boring setups, making us the largest line boring company in the Goldfields region. Whether you need urgent field service from the Goldfields to Mount Magnet or scheduled workshop repairs in Kalgoorlie, we’ve got the capacity to respond fast.
✅ 24/7 Line Boring Availability (On Request)
Unexpected breakdown? No problem. Our team is available 24/7 upon request, ensuring critical repairs can be made anytime—day or night—to get your equipment back up and running quickly.
✅ Machinist-Trained Line Borers
Unlike most competitors—who typically come from a boilermaking background—all our line boring technicians have machining backgrounds. This means:
Higher precision
Better surface finishes
Superior alignment accuracy
You get a true machining standard finish on every job.
✅ Extensive Parts Support
We don’t just fix bores—we supply everything you need to finish the job:
Full range of high-quality pins and bushes
Complete centre hitch kits for major OEMs
Bushes in a wide range of materials and tolerances
Our parts support means faster turnaround and fewer delays waiting for components.
✅ Total Mobile Field Support
Need more than line boring? We offer:
On-site field support to split machines, pull pins, and assist with disassembly
Hydraulic cylinder repair and rebuild services
Component rebuild services for buckets, arms, and frames, DPUs, drill components, dogbones etc.
We’re not just a line boring company—we’re a full-service heavy equipment support partner.
✅ Built for the Mining and Civil Sectors
We understand the pressures of remote-site operations and high-value production schedules. That’s why we’re trusted by major mining contractors, OEMs, and fleet operators across the Goldfields. Our team delivers quality, reliability, and speed—every time.
Ready to Book a Line Boring Job?
If you're experiencing excessive wear on pins, bores, or centre joints—or just want to prevent costly downtime—NLC Engineering is here to help.
📞 Contact us today to speak with our team or request a quote. Email - admin@nlcengineering.com.au or call 08 9091 8109
🌏 Serving Kalgoorlie, Mount Magnet, Leonora, and regional WA
🔧 Goldfields’ most trusted name in mobile line boring servicest.