Thrust Ball Bearings – Everything You Need to Know

Do you know what thrust ball bearings are? Well, they are tiny but important parts of any machinery. These bearings handle the axial load and make sure that the machine operates seamlessly. They decrease friction and, in return, increase the machine’s efficiency. You can find their applications in almost every industry where there is a use of advance machines.

So, are there any types of thrust bearing? How do they function? In this article, we will tell you all about their mechanism, types, pros and cons, and all other related information.

What is a Thrust Ball Bearing?

A thrust ball bearing is a bearing type to handle axial loads and reduce friction along the axis of rotation. It helps with rotation around the fixed shafts by rotating its two parts along with it.

It has two washers, flat or grooved, and a set of balls fixed in a place by a cage. Ball thrust bearings are quite helpful in rotation machinery, automotive parts, and machine tools.

How Thrust Bearings Work?

These bearings work by two things:

• supporting axial loads
• allowing seamless rotation

The bearing has two washers and a series of balls between them. When a certain load is applied along the axis, the balls roll between the washers, lessening friction and making movement easier. The washers and balls evenly distribute the force and help reduce wear and tear on the components.

Now, let’s discuss the different types of thrust bearings.

Types of Thrust Bearing

There are different thrust bearing types. We have made a comparison table with their details, advantages, limitations and applications. 

Have a look at the table:

Types	Description	Advantages	Limitations	Common Applications
Thrust Ball Bearing	Bearings with balls arranged between two washers to handle axial loads.	Smooth functioning, compact design, and low friction.	Limited capacity for radial loads.	Automotive parts, machine tools, pumps.
Tapered Thrust Bearing	Bearings using tapered rollers positioned between angled washers to support axial & radial loads.	High load capacity and caters to combined loads very efficiently.	Higher friction as compared to ball bearing.	Turbines, heavy-duty machines, gearboxes.
Cylindrical Thrust Bearing	Bearings using cylindrical rollers for high axial load capacity with reduced friction.	Very reliable under high stress and supports heavy axial loads.	Poor alignment tolerance and limited radial support.	Large motors, construction equipment, turbines.
Spherical Thrust Bearing	Bearings with spherical rollers that adjust to shaft misalignment and handle axial load.	Self-aligning with excellent load distribution.	Larger size with higher cost.	Heavy equipment, hydraulic presses, crane hooks.
Fluid Thrust Bearing	Bearings that use a thin film of lubricating fluid to separate moving parts and carry axial loads.	Less wear and is perfect for high-speed applications.	Needs a constant supply of lubrication.	High speed machinery, compressors, turbines.
Magnetic Thrust Bearing	Bearings that use magnetic fields to support axial loads without physical contact.	No mechanical wear, and is highly accurate.	Very costly and needs power to maintain operation.	Aerospace applications, high accuracy systems.

What is the Difference Between the Main Bearing and the Thrust Bearing?

While the main and thrust bearings have different roles in machinery, both serve an important function for flawless functioning.

The main bearings are mainly for the shaft, supporting radial forces that are acting perpendicular to the axis of the shaft. These bearings make sure that the stability and rotation of the shaft are maintained. You can find their applications often in engines and other systems where rotational motion is required.

On the other hand, thrust bearings are made to handle axial forces, which act parallel to the axis of the shaft. They prevent the shaft from moving forward or backward and are typically found in systems like turbines, automotive transmissions, and heavy-duty equipment. Their design often includes rolling elements like rollers/balls to prevent friction and enhance efficiency.

Here’s a detailed table showing their differences:

Feature	Main Bearing	Thrust Bearing
Purpose	Supports the crankshaft and handles radial load (perpendicular to the axis).	Handles axial loads (along the shaft’s axis).
Design	Mostly have shells or halves with smooth surface to lessen friction.	Have plates/washers containing rolling elements such as rollers and balls.
Type of Load	Can carry forces radially.	Best for axial forces.
Locality	Present along the crankshaft for a stable rotation.	Placed to stop shaft’s axial movement in machinery.
Movement	Allows the shaft to rotate.	Keeps the shaft in place by controlling the axial movement.
Uses	For engines, pumps, and other equipment with rotational stability.	For automotive transmissions, heavy-duty machinery, and turbines.

What are the Advantages of Thrust Bearing?

Thrust bearings are very beneficial components that offer multiple pros to machinery and mechanical systems.

● Perfect for Axial Loads

These bearings manage axial forces pretty well, that’s why they are suitable for the automotive industry and turbine machinery.

● Seamless Movement

Thrust ball bearings smoothen the rotations and decrease friction among moving parts of the machinery to enhance it’s working efficiency.

● High Load Capacity

Some types of thrust bearings, including cylindrical or tapered ones, can handle substantial axial loads, hence they are ideal for heavy-duty applications.

● Small-Sized and Space-Efficient

Since they are compact, you can integrate them into small machines where space is limited without compromising on the performance.

● Durability and Longevity

Properly designed thrust bearings are reliable and have the ability to tolerate repeated axial loading over time with minimal wear.

● Very Versatile

These bearings have various applications and can be used in different ways, including industrial machinery, energy systems, automotive and aerospace, and energy systems.

● Can be Customized

The good thing about these bearings is that they can be customized. You can use different materials and designs according to your requirements and conditions, like high-speed or high-temperature environments.

● Improved Load Distribution

They evenly disperse axial loads, which reduces damage to shafts and surrounding components.

● Enhanced Performance

Thrust bearings are responsible for smoother and more coherent machine operation by decreasing friction and assisting axial stability.

● Low Noise and Vibration

These bearings operate quietly with lesser vibration when maintained well, making them the best for sensitive conditions.

● Ease of Replacement and Maintenance

Many thrust bearings are made to be installed easily and serviced to shrink downtime and upkeep expenses.

What is the Disadvantage of Thrust Bearings?

Even though thrust bearings are incredibly important to manage axial loads, they have a few drawbacks.

• They are not very versatile since they are not designed to handle radial loads.
• These bearings may also experience higher wear and tear under heavy axial forces, which need regular maintenance or replacement.
• Additionally, they can generate even more friction than other bearing types, particularly if you don’t lubricate them properly, which may reduce efficiency.
• Their specific design for axial loads makes them less adaptable in axial and radial forces applications.

How to Accurately Install Thrust Ball Bearing?

If you think installing or replacing a thrust ball bearing is difficult, then it’s not. Comparatively, it’s simple but needs accuracy. Since these bearings have two washers and a ball-and-cage assembly, they must be placed in the correct order. Misalignment or bad installation can cause premature wear and poor efficiency.

You must follow the following proper steps to make sure that the bearing can handle axial loads effectively and operate smoothly.

Prepare the Components

Grab all parts of the thrust ball bearing, which are the shaft washer, housing washer, and the ball-and-cage assembly.

Make sure all the components are clean and dirt-free, as contaminants can affect performance.

Install the Housing Washer

Position the housing washer tightly against the immovable part of the assembly. This washer must be fixed to its position during operation to maintain stability.

Place the Ball-and-Cage Assembly

Place the ball-and-cage assembly very diligently on top of the installed housing washer. The balls should fit smoothly within the washer’s grooves to keep even load distribution.

Shaft Washer Fitting

Now, you need to align the shaft washer over the ball-and-cage assembly so that it contacts the rotating shaft. This washer transfers the axial force from the shaft to the bearing.

Check Alignment

Double check that all parts are aligned correctly. The inner ring should be tightly fit on the shaft (interference fit), whereas the outer ring must have a slight clearance fit in the bearing seat. Accurate alignment keeps additional movement in check and makes sure that your machine is working without hindrance.

Bearing Lubrication

Apply any recommended lubricant to reduce chafing and wear. Remember, proper lubrication is very important to decrease heat production and extend the bearing’s life.

Thrust Ball Bearing Size Chart

Bearing	Boundary dimensions				Basic load ratings		Limiting speeds		Mass
No.	mm				KN		RPM		KG
Open	d	D	T	rmin	Dynamic Cr	Static Cor	Grease	Oil
51100	10	24	9	0.3	10	14	6700	9500	0.021
51200	10	26	11	0.6	13	17	5800	8300	0.03
51101	12	26	9	0.3	10	15	6400	9200	0.023
51201	12	28	11	0.6	13	19	5600	8000	0.034
51102	15	28	9	0.3	11	17	6200	8800	0.024
51202	15	32	12	0.6	17	25	5000	7100	0.046
51103	17	30	9	0.3	11	18	6000	8500	0.026
51203	17	35	12	0.6	17	27	4800	6800	0.054
51104	20	35	10	0.3	14	25	5200	7500	0.04
51204	20	40	14	0.6	22	38	4100	5900	0.081
51105	25	42	11	0.6	20	37	4600	6500	0.06
51205	25	47	15	0.6	28	51	3700	5300	0.111
51305	25	52	18	1	36	62	3200	4600	0.176
51405	25	60	24	1	56	90	2600	3700	0.33
51106	30	47	11	0.6	20	42	4300	6200	0.069
51206	30	52	16	0.6	29	58	3400	4900	0.139
51306	30	60	21	1	43	79	2800	3900	0.269
51406	30	70	28	1	73	126	2200	3200	0.516
51107	35	52	12	0.6	20	45	3900	5600	0.085
51207	35	62	18	1	39	78	2900	4200	0.215
51307	35	68	24	1	56	105	2400	3500	0.383
51407	35	80	32	1.1	87	155	1900	2800	0.759
51108	40	60	13	0.6	27	63	3500	5000	0.125
51208	40	68	19	1	47	99	2700	3900	0.276
51308	40	78	26	1	69	135	2200	3100	0.548
51408	40	90	36	1.1	112	205	1700	2500	1.08
51109	45	65	14	0.6	28	69	3200	4600	0.148
51209	45	73	20	1	48	105	2600	3700	0.317
51309	45	85	28	1	80	163	2000	2900	0.684
51409	45	100	39	1.1	130	242	1600	2200	1.43
51110	50	70	14	0.6	29	76	3100	4500	0.161
51210	50	78	22	1	49	111	2400	3400	0.376
51310	50	95	31	1.1	97	202	1800	2600	0.951
51410	50	110	43	1.5	158	310	1400	2000	1.9
51111	55	78	16	0.6	35	93	2800	4000	0.226
51211	55	90	25	1	70	159	2100	3000	0.608
51311	55	105	35	1.1	119	246	1600	2300	1.29
51411	55	120	48	1.5	178	360	1300	1800	2.52
51112	60	85	17	1	42	113	2600	3700	0.296
51212	60	95	26	1	74	179	2000	2800	0.676
51312	60	110	35	1.1	123	267	1600	2300	1.37
51412	60	130	51	1.5	214	435	1200	1700	3.12
51113	65	90	18	1	42	117	2400	3500	0.338
51213	65	100	27	1	75	189	1900	2700	0.767
51313	65	115	36	1.1	128	287	1500	2200	1.51
51413	65	140	56	2	232	495	1100	1600	3.96
51114	70	95	18	1	43	127	2400	3400	0.356
51214	70	105	27	1	76	199	1800	2600	0.793
51314	70	125	40	1.1	148	340	1400	2000	2.01
51414	70	150	60	2	250	555	1000	1500	4.86
51115	75	100	19	1	45	136	2200	3200	0.399
51215	75	110	27	1	78	209	1800	2600	0.874
51315	75	135	44	1.5	171	395	1300	1800	2.61
51415	75	160	65	2	269	615	940	1400	5.97
51116	80	105	19	1	45	141	1900	3000	0.422
51216	80	115	28	1	78	218	1400	2000	0.916
51316	80	140	44	1.5	176	425	1200	1800	2.72
51416	80	170	68	2.1	270	620	890	1300	7.77
51117	85	110	19	1	46	150	1800	2800	0.444
51217	85	125	31	1	96	264	1300	1900	1.25
51317	85	150	49	1.5	201	490	1100	1600	3.52
51417	85	180	72	2.1	288	685	840	1200	9.17
51118	90	120	22	1	60	190	1700	2600	0.687
51218	90	135	35	1.1	117	325	1200	1800	1.7
51318	90	155	50	1.5	198	490	1100	1600	3.74
51418	90	190	77	2.1	305	750	790	1100	11
51120	100	135	25	1	85	268	1600	2400	0.987
51220	100	150	38	1.1	147	410	1100	1700	2.29
51320	100	170	55	1.5	237	595	990	1400	4.88
51420	100	210	85	3	370	970	710	1000	14.7

Conclusion

Thrust ball bearings are exceptional in handling machinery’s axial loads and helping reduce friction. They are used in automotive parts, pumps, and many other heavy-duty machinery and equipment. You can install them very easily, but you have to be very accurate with the steps. That’s why if you’re new to this, we advise getting professional help.

Other types besides ball bearings include spherical, tapered, magnetic, cylindrical, and fluid thrust bearings. Each of them has advantages, certain limitations, and several applications.

You can contact BWYB Bearing for thrust bearing and other bearing types needs. Call us for expert advice and bearing solutions for your next project!