Thrust bearing

[rangerkh]

What causes this to wear out? I just had the engine rebuilt last year and the thrust bearing is out. I called the shop that did it and they are telling me that it is never an engine related problem. I just had the transmission rebuilt last week because it was screwing up majorly. They are suggestiong that it normally is to much pressure from the transmission on the t/c that pushes on the crank or that the belts are out of alignment. I know it can't be the belts because we made sure those were lined up when we put it back together. Since I need to fix this before I can drive it, so I don't ruin the transmission. I need to know what else I should look for to keep this from happening again.

[Zacko]

Which thrust bearing are you referring to, the one in the engine (crankshaft) or one in the trans?
The engine thrust bearing can fail from lack of oil or other internal problems (including being too tight from the beginning) but belt tension shouldn't be a problem if all things are normal inside. And with an automatic there is no pressure against the thrust bearing.
Since you said it was just rebuilt I'd bet it is one of 4 things, a faulty bearing (not too likely), a bent crank, a bearing without enough oil clearance, (more likely) or a damaged thrust surface on the crank eating up the bearing (even more likely).
Over tightened belts will more likely damage the component the belt is driving or the belt before the thrust bearing. Especially in just a year.
One thought though, if your torque converter was putting a lot of thrust load on the crank for some reason that could cause the problem, and could also be the root of the trans problem.
Good luck smile.gif

[rangerkh]

I was refering to the bearing for the crankshaft. I'm willing to put money on the crankshaft being the problem as the engine that I got from the salvage yard was suffering from the same problem and I suspect that they used the same crank and didn't bother to do the right thing and tell me and let me pay the extra money to replace it. But, it may have been the transmission. :confused:

[ May 20, 2003, 11:20 AM: Message edited by: rangerkh ]