This NTN GS-series thrust roller bearing housing washer is designed for use with NTN K-series thrust cylindrical roller and cage assemblies, but it can also be combined with NTN AXK11series thrust needle roller and cage assemblies. This thrust bearing housing washer (outer ring) is mounted in the bearing housing and serves as a raceway surface for the rolling elements in applications where adjacent components cannot serve as raceways. The washer is machined and made of hardened chromium steel for durability, heat tolerance, and resistance to deformity under heavy loads, providing it with higher rigidity and running accuracy than the AS-series bearing washer. It has a class 0 (normal) tolerance rating in accordance with Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) B 1514 and an H7 rating for the bearing ring fit in the housing. This thrust roller bearing washer is for use in various applications including machine tool drive shafts, automotive steering gears and clutches, rotary tables, outboard motor propellers, and household appliances.

Rolling bearings use rolling elements to maintain the separation between moving parts to reduce rotational friction and support radial and axial loads. These elements can be one of the following types: ball, cylindrical, spherical, barrel, needle, spindle, or tapered. All rolling bearings are open, shielded, or sealed. Sealed bearings are lubricated with oil or grease in the bearing factory, while open and shielded bearings are meant to be lubricated in place, with periodic reapplication of lubrication, based on use. The shield protects the working parts of the bearing from environmental debris that may be introduced and could reduce the ball bearing speed and lifespan. Rolling bearings are used in a range of applications from agricultural machinery to conveying equipment, robotics, dental equipment, elevators, rolling mills, ship rudder shafts, and aggregate crushers, among others.

NTN manufactures bearings, joints, hubs, components, and assemblies that meet International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards for quality assurance. The company, founded in 1918, is based in Osaka, Japan.