Thrust ball Bearings

Single-direction thrust ball bearings are composed of washer-like bearing rings with raceway grooves. The ring attached to the shaft is called the shaft washer (or inner ring) while that attached to the housing is called the housing washer (or outer ring).

In double-direction thrust ball bearings, there are three rings with the middle one (center ring) being fixed to the shaft.

There are also thrust ball bearings with an aligning seat washer beneath the housing washer in order to compensate for shaft misalignment or mounting error.

Pressed steel cages are usually used in the smaller bearings and machined cages in the larger ones.