A thrust bearing can be a particular type of rotary showing. Like other bearings they permit rotation between parts, but they are designed to support a high axial load while achieving this.

Thrust bearings come in several varieties.

Ball thrust bearings, composed of ball bearings supported in the ring, can be used in low thrust applications where there is little radial load.
Roller thrust bearings involve small cylindrical rollers arranged flat with the axes pointing to the axis in the bearing. They give excellent carrying capacity and are generally cheap, but tend to wear as a result of differences in radial speed and friction is higher than with ball bearings.
Tapered roller bearings consist of small tapered rollers arranged so that their axes all converge at a point on the axis of the bearing. The length of the roller along with the diameter of the wide along with the narrow ends and this angle of rollers ought to be carefully calculated to provide the correct taper so that each end of the roller rolls smoothly on the bearing face without skidding. These include the type most commonly utilised in automotive applications (to help the wheels of a motor car for instance), where they are utilized in pairs to fit axial thrust in as well direction, as well as radial loads. They can support alternatively larger thrust loads in comparison to the ball type due to the larger contact area, but are more expensive to manufacture.
Liquid bearings, where the axial thrust is supported on a thin layer of pressurized liquid—these give low lug.
Magnetic bearings, where the axial thrust is supported on a magnetic field. This is utilized where very high speeds or very low drag is needed, for example the Zippe-type centrifuge.
They are generally used in automotive, ocean, and aerospace applications.

Thrust bearings are utilized in cars because this forward gears in modern day car gearboxes use helical equipment which, while aiding in smoothness and noise lessening, cause axial forces that need to be dealt with. The double helical or herringbone gear balances the thrust brought on by normal helical gears.

One specific thrust bearing in an automobile is the clutch system "throw out" bearing, from time to time called the clutch release bearing.

Fluid-film thrust bearings have been invented by Australian engineer George Michell (conspicuous Mitchell) who branded his invention in 1905. Michell bearings contain a number of sector-shaped pads, arranged in a circle around the base, and which are free to pivot. These create wedge-shaped regions of oil inside the bearing between the pads and a rotating disk, which support your applied thrust and get rid of metal-on-metal contact.

Michell's invention was notably used on the thrust block within ships. The small size (one-tenth the size of old bearing designs), low friction and long life of Michell's invention granted the development of better engines and propellers. They were used extensively in warships built during World Showdown I, and have end up being the standard bearing used with turbine shafts in ships and power plants around the world.