🔍 Key Concepts

• Axial (thrust) clearance between the thrust collar and thrust elements on BOTH sides • How shims or liners (items #2 and #5) move the entire thrust bearing support toward or away from the thrust collar • The difference between changing the thickness of a support plate (item #1) and changing the thickness of a shim between the housing parts

💭 Think About

• Look at the arrows for items #2 and #5. When you make either of those thicker or thinner, which direction does the thrust element carrier move relative to the thrust collar? • To reduce total oil clearance, do you want the thrust elements to move closer to the collar from one side only, or symmetrically from both sides? Which item change would affect both sides at once? • If you reduced the thickness of item #1, would that change the relative position of the thrust pads to the collar, or only their backing thickness? How would that affect oil film, if at all?

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify which items (#2 or #5) are shims between the housing and the thrust bearing carrier, not the thrust pads themselves. • Decide which change (thicker vs thinner) moves the thrust pads toward the collar, thereby reducing the oil film clearance. • Confirm whether the adjustment you pick will change the total axial end clearance (both ahead and astern directions), not just one side locally.