Thrust bearing

Thrust bearings primarily carry loads along the shaft axis; their nominal contact angle exceeds 45°, reaching 90° for pure thrust types. Designs include thrust ball bearings (single or double acting), cylindrical, needle and tapered roller thrust bearings, and spherical roller thrust bearings — the only type that also accommodates significant radial load and misalignment. The rings are called shaft and housing washers. Thrust bearings are speed-sensitive because centrifugal force pushes the rolling elements outward; thrust ball bearings therefore require a minimum axial load per manufacturer data to prevent skidding. Mounting demands flat, square abutment faces, and pure thrust bearings are almost always combined with radial bearings.