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Incessant demands to improve performance in automotive engines have popularized the use of contoured sector thrust bearings. This type of bearing has the mechanical ability generate a complete oil film that in turn can support high axial crankshaft loads and can reduce frictional drag torque. As a means of evaluating thrust bearing performance prior to production, we have designed and constructed an experimental apparatus. This experimental apparatus measures load, speed, torque, film temperature, and cross-film asperity contact resistance over a wide range of operating conditions representative in a real engine/ transmission combination. Concurrently, we have developed an analytical means of predicting oil film thickness, torque, and load using a finite element formulation of the Reynolds equation coupled with a mass-conserving cavitation algorithm.