A compliant hydrodynamic fluid thrust bearing tolerant of strong misalignment forces includes two radially outside sections and a radially inside section, all lying generally parallel to the direction of rotation of the thrust runner. The outside sections are more compliant than the inside section of the bearing and can deflect independently of it to conform independently with a misaligned thrust runner bearing surface without distorting other portions of the bearing. The surface area of the bearing which is thus made available to bear loads is maximized, thereby increasing load capacity and misalignment tolerance of the bearings.