Abstract: Accelerated wear of the seal in a thrust bearing and seal assembly is avoided by the provision of a bearing having a thrust bearing pad engaging a shoulder on a shaft with the inner diameter of the bearing being spaced from the shaft sufficiently to define a seal receiving space. An axially movable seal having a sealing surface engaging the shoulder is located in the space and is biased against the shoulder by a biasing spring. When deflection occurs, the sealing element is free to yield axially, allowing the loading to be taken up by the thrust pad.