Buy Thrust Bearings Online in Australia
Thrust bearings handle axial loads running along the shaft — not radial. Selection turns on load type (light positional vs heavy continuous), space constraints and rotation speed. Wrong selection ends in bearing failure, shaft scoring or housing damage. AIMS Industrial stocks thrust ball, thrust roller and thrust needle roller bearings across NSK, NACHI, Koyo, IKO and FYH — plus the lock nuts, tab washers and shaft / housing washers that go with them. Bore range from 10 mm through 200 mm covered ex-stock; larger sizes on indent.
Thrust Bearing Selection — Quick Reference
Thrust bearings carry AXIAL loads (along the shaft) — not radial. Selection turns on load type (light positional vs heavy continuous), space constraints, and rotation speed. Wrong selection = bearing failure, shaft scoring, or housing damage.
| Thrust Bearing Type | Best For | Load Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Thrust Needle Roller (AXK + Washers) | Compact axial load, automatic transmissions, clutch packs | Moderate – high (high P/V ratio) |
| NTB Series (NSK/Koyo) | Compact assemblies, gearboxes, pumps, compressors | Moderate – high |
| Cage & Roller Only (NTA) | Custom stack height, replacing rolling element only | Per assembly — match washers |
| Polymer Cage (AXK.TN) | High-speed applications, weight-sensitive assemblies | High-speed rated |
| Shaft Washer (WS) | Inner running surface — replace when scored | Per bearing pair |
| Housing Washer (GS) | Outer mounting surface — replace when scored | Per bearing pair |
| Thrust Ball Bearing (51100 Series) | Light axial positioning, lazy susans, low-load shafts | Light only — no shock load |
| Spherical Thrust Roller | Heavy axial + some misalignment — cranes, large shafts | Heavy — handles misalignment |
| Cylindrical Thrust Roller | Heavy continuous axial — heavy machinery | Highest axial capacity |
Critical: Thrust needle bearings need flat, hardened washers (Rc 58+ HRc) — soft washers wear and fail. Always replace washers as a set with the bearing. Brands: IKO, Koyo. Companion: needle roller bearings, bearings, thrust bearing guide, bearing maintenance guide.
Thrust Bearings — Ball, Roller and Needle
Thrust needle roller bearings and thrust washers handle axial loads in compact assemblies where standard thrust ball or roller bearings would be too large. AIMS Industrial stocks a comprehensive selection of thrust needle roller components from IKO and Koyo, including complete assemblies, cage and roller sets, and individual shaft and housing washers.
Complete Thrust Needle Roller Bearings
Full-assembly thrust needle roller bearings — AXK and NTB series — consist of a cage-and-roller assembly sandwiched between a shaft washer (WS) and a housing washer (GS). Available in metric dimensions covering a wide bore range, these bearings suit applications such as automatic transmissions, clutch mechanisms, pumps and compressors.
Cage & Roller Assemblies
Cage and roller assemblies (NTA series) can be combined with separately sourced washers where the application requires a custom stack height or where replacing only the rolling element is practical. Polymer cage variants (AXK.TN) reduce weight and inertia in high-speed applications.
Shaft & Housing Washers
Shaft washers (WS inner ring) and housing washers (GS outer ring) are stocked individually for replacement applications and for building custom thrust bearing stacks. Also available: flat-back single-direction thrust ball bearings (51100 series) for lower-load axial positioning applications.
Lock Nuts & Tab Washers
Bearing lock nuts (KM series) and tab washers (MB series) lock the thrust bearing assembly to the shaft and prevent it backing off under reversing axial load. We stock lock nuts and matching tab washers across the standard metric and imperial shaft sizes that pair with our thrust bearing range. Specify by shaft thread (e.g. KM10 / MB10 for an M50×1.5 shaft thread) — call us with the bearing part number if you need the matched lock nut and washer set.
Related: Needle Roller Bearings | Ball Bearings | All Bearings