Parts for your 2020 Toyota Land cruiser-Thrust bearing

2020 Toyota Land Cruiser Thrust Bearing — What It Does and When to Worry

Based on the Toyota Land Cruiser 200 Series Repair Manual for the 1VD‑FTV (4.5 V8 diesel) and 3UR‑FE (5.7 V8 petrol) engines, the 2020 Land Cruiser does use a thrust bearing — it’s built into the main bearing set to control crankshaft end float. Toyota’s parts catalogue and service procedures list the thrust bearing as part of the bottom‑end assembly. The vehicle’s Aisin AB60F 6‑speed automatic uses a torque converter, so there’s no clutch release/throw‑out (sometimes called “thrust”) bearing in the driveline. So yes, a thrust bearing is relevant — but it’s an engine item, not a transmission clutch part.

On the 2020 Land Cruiser, the thrust bearing’s job is to keep the crankshaft centred front‑to‑back, maintaining correct clearances for oil film, timing gear alignment and sensor readings. It cops axial loads during gear changes, converter lock/unlock, and accessory drive loads. When healthy, it’s invisible, when worn, it can let the crank walk, which risks rear main seal leaks, misalignment noises and erratic engine behaviour.

There’s no scheduled service interval just for the thrust bearing. It’s inspected when the sump is off or any bottom‑end work is underway. Technicians measure crank end float with a dial indicator and compare to Toyota’s spec in the repair manual. If out of spec, the thrust bearing halves are replaced, and the end float rechecked after torquing the main cap fasteners.

• Hints it’s time to check: metallic scraping near the rear main area, unexplained flexplate noise, abnormal crank pulley fore‑aft movement, or persistent end float codes/trigger signal instability after engine work.
• Good habits: stick to quality oil and intervals suited to Aussie/Kiwi conditions, ensure correct transmission fitment (converter fully seated, flexplate run‑out checked), and avoid extended idling with heavy accessory loads that can aggravate axial forces.

Replacement is straightforward for a trained tech: sump off, relevant main bearing cap removed, thrust halves swapped like‑for‑like thickness, then end float set within Toyota’s limits. If wear is severe, they’ll also inspect the crank thrust face. Because the 2020 Land Cruiser is auto only, anyone searching for a “clutch thrust/throw‑out bearing” won’t find one — the torque converter handles engagement, so there’s nothing to grease or adjust at the pedal end.

Technical sources referenced: Toyota Land Cruiser 200 Series Repair Manual (engine mechanical for 1VD‑FTV and 3UR‑FE: crankshaft/thrust clearance and main bearing service), Toyota EPC for main/thrust bearing listings, and Aisin AB60F automatic transmission design documentation indicating torque converter engagement without a clutch release bearing.

Popular questions

Does a 2020 Land Cruiser have a thrust bearing?
Yes — in the engine. It’s part of the main bearing assembly controlling crankshaft end float. There’s no clutch release/throw‑out bearing because the 2020 model runs an Aisin AB60F automatic with a torque converter.

When should the thrust bearing be replaced?
It’s not a routine service item. It’s checked when the sump is off or during bottom‑end work. If crank end float is outside Toyota’s spec, or there are symptoms like scraping noises or flexplate misalignment, the bearing should be replaced and end float reset.

What causes thrust bearing wear on these?
Common contributors include dirty or degraded oil, incorrect transmission fitment (converter not fully seated, flexplate stress), and ongoing axial loading under heavy towing or high accessory loads. Keeping oil changes on point and ensuring proper gearbox install practices go a long way.