Thrust ball bearings are manufactured as single direction or double direction thrust ball bearings. They are designed to accommodate axial loads only and must not be subjected to any radial load.

Thrust ball bearings are separable, i.e. the shaft washer, housing washer(s), ball and cage assembly(s) can be mounted separately.

Shaft washers have a ground bore to enable an interference fit. The bore of the housing washer is turned and always larger than the shaft washer bore.