what does a thrust bearing actually do in a diff. Do you need it? I've always wondered. Can you get away with using the washers without the balls?
2wdMod
03-03-2009 06:13 AM
Yes the thrust bearing is very necesarry.Without it in a diff of current designs your diff would loosen/tighten depending on which way you turned your car.
Tubaboy
03-03-2009 09:34 AM
It also removes side pressure from bearings that fit inside the diff gear, allowing them to last longer.
B-FAST R/C
03-03-2009 09:56 AM
Originally Posted by fastbynature
(Post 5503511)
what does a thrust bearing actually do in a diff. Do you need it? I've always wondered. Can you get away with using the washers without the balls?
The head of the diff screw would want to spin with the left outdrive, the thrust bearing prevents that from happening. And since the nut does spin with the right outdrive if no thrust bearing were in place the diff would either loosen or over tighten as stated above.
If you allow the thrust bearing to deteriorate far enough this will happen as the bearing begins to seize.
