three thrust washers are disposed between the rearwardly facing surface 52 of the oilite u2122 bushing 46 and a forwardly facing surface 54 of the pinion gear 40 the present invention also contemplates the use of any number of thrust washers of one or greater the thrust washers dissipate frictional forces caused by a forward thrust of the pinion gear 40 as best seen in fig4 the middle thrust washer 60 has two axially facing surfaces 66 68 the end thrust washer 58 has an inner axially facing surface 70 and an outer axially facing surface 72 similarly the end washer 56 has an inner axially facing surface 74 and an outer axially facing surface 76 as is readily apparent the inner axially facing surface 70 of the end thrust washer 58 contacts the axially facing surface 66 of the middle thrust washer 60 and the inner axially facing surface 74 of the end thrust washer 56 contacts the other axially facing surface 68 of the middle thrust washer 60 defining a pair of interfaces the outer axially facing surface 72 of the end thrust washer 58 contacts the forwardly facing surface 54 of the helical pinion gear 40 and the outer axial surface 76 of the end radial washer 56 contacts the rearwardly facing surface 52 of the oilite u2122 bushing 46 in a highly preferred embodiment of the present invention the.