Thrust Bearing

[Palmer]

Are there any procedures of the replacement of the Thrust Bearing on a 98XPL that cannot be done by a home mechanic? ie does it have to be done by a dealer for any reason. As mine is pretty well stuffed, but before I order parts and try to do it I thought I would check.

[Bill O'Neal]

Thrust bearing ? You mean on the impellor shaft in the pump?

[Palmer]

Bill
Yes on the shaft in the pump. On the diagram Im using it is lissted as part no. 293 350 019 Thrust Bearing.
Any help appreciated.

[Bill O'Neal]

Typically, when you ruin a thrust bearing, it will try to weld itself to the impellor shaft, overheating and ruining the nice ground surface of the shaft that the bearing rides against. If this has happened you need to replace both parts, the shaft and the bearing, and sometimes the thrust washer too.

The thrust bearing just slides off and onto the shaft. The only trick to replacing it is to keep it centered when reassembling the pump. I use a sticky grease to hold it centered when assembling. Once I have the impellor installed, I am careful to not let the shaft move rearward until I get the pump cover (cone) installed. The cone keeps it from moving rearward enough to let the thrust bearing get dislodged, where it can get pinched when you bolt the cone on. After complete assembly, always check to see if the impellor will move back and forth a little. If it will not move, disassemble it and go back and buy another thrust bearing and install it, being careful not to pinch it again when assembling the pump. You should never use a bearing that has been damaged from pinching it during assembly.

A bad thrust bearing will ruin an impellor housing and impellor shaft in a very few minutes of running time.

[Palmer]

Bill
Thanks for your help.
should the impeller shaft have a groove in it where the thrust bearing will be? Just checking as when took apart was groove about 2mm deep. Not sure if this normal, or if has been ground down by stuffed bearing and washer.