Thrust Bearing Replacement
 

I BOUGHT A 2000 E 150 TWO MONTHS AGO WITH 59,000 MILES.
WARRANTY WAS UP TUESDAY... THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING NOISE THURSDAY AM. I FOUND OUT I HAVE A BAD THRUST BEARING. I HAVEN'T BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER YET BUT WANT TO KNOW ALL I CAN BEFORE I GO IF THIS IS A FORD CONCERN. WHAT CAUSED IT AND CAN IT BE FIXED WITHOUT A NEW CAMSHAFT OR ENGINE.
ANY HELP OUT THERE?

thrust bearing keeps the cam shaft in place and from moving front to back. the bearing itself can be replaced often without having the even take the cam out. Should not have to replace the cam unless the problem was let go long enough to damage it. but fix it asap.

Well, I hope you are right.... I probably drove it a couple hundred miles after I started hearing the noises of the bolts hitting the rear of the engine.... I hope to get it fixed after the new year. It is parked for now. Thank you for your reply.

Cam shaft or Crankshaft? Don't you mean crank?

I'm no mechanic, but I'm not aware of the crank having a thrust bearing. It is held in place by the main bearing caps and the bearings themselves. The cam on most Ford's have a small bearing or "thrust plate" that keeps the cam from walking back and forth in the block, as the cam bearings are not held down by bolts or caps. The only exception would be in an overhead cam engine, or maybe I'm just crazy.