Recently, I replaced the thrust-bearing on my 1964 Garrard Lab-80 with two stacked washers that I formed out of Teflon sheeting. The bearing had been "missing in action" for many years -- the platter riding only on the (well lubed) phenolic bearing-race (the little ball-bearings were retained in holes in the race -- and they fell out years ago when the platter was removed for some reason).

A benefit from the use of Teflon-on-Teflon is that the turntable rumble [turntable on, no record -- and amp. at full volume] had virtually disappeared. And the speed is dead-on for the first time in years.

If you perform this "operation", please let me know how it worked out for you.