Parts for your 2020 Volkswagen Amarok-Thrust bearing

2020 Volkswagen Amarok thrust-bearing – is it a thing?

Short answer: a clutch thrust-bearing isn’t a relevant or fitted service part on the 2020 Volkswagen Amarok sold in Australia and New Zealand. The 2020 lineup here pairs the V6 TDI with an 8‑speed automatic (ZF 8HP) and no manual gearbox option, so there’s no clutch assembly and therefore no clutch release/thrust bearing to service or replace. This is documented in Volkswagen Australia and New Zealand MY20 Amarok specification guides, which list the V6 with 8‑speed automatic only, and in ZF’s technical material describing the 8HP as a torque‑converter automatic (no manual clutch) (Volkswagen Amarok MY20 spec guides, ZF 8HP technical overview).

Why that matters: the “thrust-bearing” most people ask about on utes is the clutch release (throwout) bearing—part of a manual transmission’s clutch that unloads the pressure plate when you press the pedal. Standard automotive service texts and manufacturer workshop manuals classify the release/thrust bearing as a manual-clutch component, not something found on a torque‑converter automatic (e.g. Volkswagen workshop procedures for 6‑speed manuals, general clutch fundamentals in industry handbooks).

So if you’re hunting for a thrust-bearing on a 2020 Amarok to solve a noise or vibration, it’s not the culprit—because it’s not there to begin with. The auto uses a torque converter and internal multi‑plate clutches controlled hydraulically inside the transmission. Those internals do include various thrust elements and washers, but they aren’t user‑serviceable items and aren’t referred to as a standalone “thrust-bearing” in routine servicing. Likewise, the engine has crankshaft thrust bearings inside the block, again, not a scheduled-service part and unrelated to clutch noises.

• No manual clutch on MY20 AU/NZ Amarok V6 = no clutch thrust/release bearing (VW MY20 spec sheets).
• Torque‑converter automatic replaces the function of a manual clutch (ZF 8HP technical literature).
• OEM service schedules for 2020 Amarok don’t list clutch or thrust-bearing maintenance.

If you’ve got a whirring, rumble or growl you thought was a thrust-bearing, consider other usual suspects on these: accessory drive pulleys, wheel bearings, front diff or transfer case bearings, or (less commonly) torque converter issues. A proper road test and stethoscope check by a tech familiar with the Amarok’s V6/8‑speed combo is the best next step.

Popular questions

Does the 2020 Amarok have a clutch thrust (release) bearing?
No. The 2020 AU/NZ Amarok runs an 8‑speed automatic with a torque converter. There’s no manual clutch assembly, so there’s no clutch thrust/release bearing to wear out or service. This aligns with Volkswagen’s MY20 spec information and standard drivetrain design for the ZF 8HP auto.

What could be making a “thrust-bearing” noise on my 2020 Amarok?
On an auto Amarok, similar noises can come from the serpentine belt idler/tensioner bearings, alternator or A/C pulley, wheel bearings, or driveline bearings (front diff/transfer case). Less commonly, a faulty torque converter can cause a rumble at certain speeds. A workshop listening test will narrow it down fast.

Were any 2020 Amaroks manual and fitted with a clutch thrust-bearing?
In Australia and New Zealand, the MY20 V6 models were auto only. Some earlier 4‑cylinder Amaroks in other years and markets did have manual gearboxes with a conventional clutch and thrust/release bearing, but that setup doesn’t apply to the 2020 AU/NZ V6 range.