A little knowledge from a DSMer... If this were true, your engine's thrust bearing would be hosed. If you're thrust bearing were hosed, then you would have crankwalked a Civic.

:gtfo:

I didn't see that kind of wear on your thrust bearing. I saw squished mains. I'm stickin' to the soft bearing + 20 PSI beating theory. Anything laterally affecting your crank would not have squished the mains like that. It would have eaten through the thrust bearing first.

I've fragged 3 transmissions' thrust bearings, blown 1st and 2nd apart, shatterred my shift forks, and fired a chunk of something out of the tranny case... and all the while running an ACT2600 extreme clutch. I have NO crankshaft endplay. But I do have hardened bearings that are designed for a turbo car.