Thrust Button

The Milodon Thrust Button is a critical wear component engineered for Chevrolet and Mopar small-block engines equipped with gear-driven camshaft systems. This compact plastic thrust button serves as a precision spacer that maintains proper camshaft endplay—the controlled axial movement that prevents the cam from binding while allowing it to rotate freely within the block. Anyone rebuilding or modifying an engine with a Milodon gear drive, especially enthusiasts pushing higher RPMs or upgrading to aggressive cam profiles, depends on this component to ensure long-term reliability and consistent valve timing.

Manufactured from durable black plastic, the Milodon Thrust Button is engineered to withstand the radial loads transmitted through the gear drive without deflection or permanent deformation. During engine assembly, it seats against the camshaft shoulder and the engine block's thrust surface, creating a precisely calibrated gap that allows controlled endplay—typically 0.004–0.008 inches depending on your specific block and cam configuration. The material composition resists oil degradation and maintains dimensional stability across normal operating temperatures, critical factors since any loss of thickness will directly increase endplay and invite cam gear noise, timing scatter, or accelerated wear on the camshaft journals.

Installation is straightforward during full engine rebuild: the thrust button is positioned on the front of the camshaft before the gear drive is mounted, then torqued to specification as part of the gear drive assembly sequence. This component is compatible with Chevrolet small-block (265–400 cubic inches) and Mopar small-block (318–360 cubic inches) platforms running Milodon gear-drive systems. Whether you're street-tuning a classic muscle car or building a race engine, verifying correct thrust button installation is non-negotiable—skipping or reusing a worn button will compromise cam timing stability and invite costly damage downstream. Each order includes one thrust button.