200S rear sproket bushings

[1984ATC200S]

Is there a specific reason that the 200S rear sprocket has rubber bushing, my shop teacher is going to help me make some solid steel ones that we'll press in, the teeth are perfect but my bushings keep getting beat out, so i figure steel ones would outlast the teeth, and i can get better run time out of it. Would it work?

[SCRAMCHARGER318]

i believe the bushings are to take out the shock of engagement, it's not that big of a deal i ran my 185 for years with a aftermarket rear sprocket without the bushings in it.