Thrust ball bearings are composed of bearing balls supported in a ring and can be used in low thrust applications where there is little axial load.

These bearings are designed to handle thrust loads while operating at relatively high speeds, these ball bearings are able to sustain axial loads but no radial loads.

Thrust ball bearings are manufactured as single direction or double direction. single direction and double direction. Single direction design includes two rings, referred to as shaft and housing washers and a single ball and cage assembly. Double direction design, on the other hand, includes three washers and two ball and cage assemblies. The ball and cage assemblies of the double direction type are separated by the shaft washer.