Thrust needle bearings feature cage and needle roller assemblies with a surface-hardened cage made of two precision-pressed steel sheets. The rollers are held securely in the cage to ensure optimal guidance even under large axial loads. These bearings are so space-saving that they can easily replace conventional plain bearing thrust washers in the same installation space. Various configurations are available, including stand-alone units, integrated raceway units, or units with different raceway thicknesses to suit the mounting conditions around the bearing.