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Hey gang,

I have a quick question regarding the thrust washers used for the rear main journal on the V6 crank. I had a little trouble getting the rear main bearing cap out so I fiddled around with making a "puller tool". I was so excited that my puller worked I forgot about the thrust washers. Anyway to make a long story short when I turned the motor upsidedown the thrust washers fell out and I don't know which side of the thrust washer faces the crank journal and which side faces the block. Anyone know this?

AlfaBeta

thist might help

makes sense since you want to lube the side with the axial force....

Hi slyalfa,

Thank you for the attachment. I actually saw this diagram in the workshop manual but from the photo it's hard to tell what they are calling the lubrication groove. On one side of the washer towards the top flanges there is a type of vertical groove. The other side has a cut groove along the outer circumpherence (if I remember correctly). The side with the vertical grooves seems more "dirty" so I was assuming this was the side opposite the block but I'm not completely sure.

AlfaBeta

I thought the radial grooves were the oil grooves as they were only on one side of the thrust bearings I used for replacements...the other side was flat on mine

I think mine only had grooves on one side too. when I have a chance I will take a look I think some of the old might be still on the floor.

Hi guys,

Thanks for the replies. x-rad, the grooves you are calling "radial grooves" are these the two vertical grooves on one side of the washer? The grooves are pretty wide, 4mm or so.

AB

yeah, they kinda radiate from the center of the crank....

OK I snaped a pic

YES, THAT's IT! Thank you slyalfa. So just to re-iterate again, these grooves face the rotating crank journal side right? I just want to be 110% sure since this would be a very bad mistake!

thanks again!
AlfaBeta

"these grooves face the rotating crank journal side right?"

yes the grooves let the oil get between the shaft and the thrust bering.
with oil flowing they should never touch the shaft. just like the other berings.

they should only touch when there is no oil. that pic is of one that alfa put in. and it only has a very small marks even after 230,000 miles.
lack of a clutch pushing on them help.

Thank you for the reply slyalfa, everything makes perfect sense. The reason I had some uncertainty before was the fact that the washers did not look worn at all with the crank journal. Your response explains it now though! Thanks again!