Abstract: A thrust bearing assembly which facilitates the installation and assembly of the thrust bearing into a housing or onto a shaft. The thrust bearing assembly preferred embodiment comprises two thrust washers, a cage with rollers, an annular band which engages the outer periphery of the thrust washer, and at least one protrusion extending radially outwardly from the annular band. The protrusions have two edges--a leading edge and a non-leading edge. The non-leading edge is configured to make it impossible to insert the thrust bearing into a housing the wrong way. A modified non-leading edge configuration makes it impossible to slide a modified thrust bearing assembly onto a shaft.