Yes, they are like a sleeve, I believe the proper term is cutlass bearing. They aren't expensive or hard to get, I'd just give Tom at Jetboat Performance a call, don't know where you are but that's where I buy my stuff. How were the packing seals? That would be something else I'd replace. If they were hard as a rock that would definitely cause a leak, although there are other areas, around the transom seal, how are the hoses, etc.