Where is the Plane Bearing Located?

[AllisonDella]

Automotive plane bearings are located at the top of the shock absorber, together with the shock absorber top rubber. Plane bearings, also known as pressure bearings, are most commonly found in MacPherson-type suspensions. Plane bearings consist of a flat cage assembly with needles, cylindrical rollers, or steel balls, and flat washers. More details are as follows: 1. Plane bearings in vehicles serve as a shock-absorbing and movable connection between the car body, preventing direct friction between shafts. The advantages of plane bearings include: high load capacity and stiffness in a compact space due to the use of high-precision cylindrical rollers, which increase contact length. 2. Another advantage is that if the surface of adjacent components is suitable as a raceway, the washer can be omitted, making the design more compact. DF plane needle bearings and plane cylindrical roller bearings use profiled surfaces for needles and cylindrical rollers, reducing edge stress and extending service life. 3. Plane bearings primarily bear axial loads in assemblies and are widely used. Although the installation of plane bearings is relatively simple, errors often occur during actual maintenance, such as incorrect positioning of the bearing's tight and loose rings, leading to bearing failure and rapid wear of the shaft neck.

[OVivienne]

The location of the thrust bearing in a car is crucial. It's typically positioned at the top of the front suspension's shock absorber. When you open the hood, locate the round metal cover on the shock absorber tower – removing it reveals the bearing pressed against the upper end of the suspension spring, sandwiched between the car body and suspension. This placement is critical because as the vehicle moves, the suspension repeatedly compresses, forcing the thrust bearing to bear the entire front-end weight's pressure while enabling the shock absorber to rotate flexibly with the wheels during steering. A faulty bearing causes distinct clicking noises when turning the stationary wheel, dull thuds when crossing speed bumps, and severe steering wheel vibration at highway speeds. Despite its small size, this component wears easily, particularly in vehicles frequently driven on rough roads – requiring inspection and replacement every 5-6 years. Replacement necessitates spring removal, a job strictly for professional repair shops due to the dangerous potential of spring release.

[LeOlivia]

Last time I replaced the thrust bearing myself, I finally understood its location. It sits right at the very top of the front wheel suspension system, specifically beneath the shock absorber top mount, adjacent to the spring upper seat. The mechanic pointed it out: 'See here, when you turn the steering wheel, the entire strut tower rotates, relying entirely on the thrust bearing to function as a turntable.' In my own car, it was abnormal noise from this spot that led me to discover the bearing's balls had worn flat. Replacement requires removing the tire, taking off the entire strut assembly, and using special tools to compress the spring to extract the old bearing. When installing the new one, make sure not to put it in backwards, and the dust cover must be securely fastened, otherwise grit getting in will quickly ruin it again. The grease used in this location is particularly critical—I switched to a polyurea-based high-viscosity type, which lasts much longer.

[VanAutumn]

The thrust bearing, also known as the top mount bearing, is a core load-bearing component in a vehicle's suspension system. It is installed at the top of the shock absorber piston rod, supporting the body's strut tower above and compressing the coil spring below. During steering operations, it transmits steering torque, allowing the suspension to rotate freely. Its design typically features a ball-bearing structure with a sealing ring and wear-resistant spacers in the center. Normally hidden from view in the engine bay, it only becomes visible after removing the strut tower dust cover. This area is particularly prone to dust accumulation and water ingress, with play often developing around 60,000 kilometers in regular vehicles. Enthusiasts who modify their cars often upgrade this bearing to a performance variant with ceramic balls for more precise steering on race tracks.