Parts for your 1998 Daihatsu Gran move-Centre bearing

1998 Daihatsu Gran Move centre-bearing — is it even a thing?

Short answer: a centre-bearing isn’t used on the 1998 Daihatsu Gran Move sold in Australia and New Zealand. That model is front‑wheel drive with a transverse engine and a transaxle, so there’s no long tailshaft running down the car that would require a centre support bearing.

Why that matters: a “centre-bearing” (often called a centre support bearing) is a part you’ll find on two‑piece propeller shafts in rear‑wheel drive or 4WD vehicles. It supports the tailshaft mid‑span to keep vibration in check. Because the Gran Move drives the front wheels via short left and right CV half‑shafts from the transaxle, it simply doesn’t have a propeller shaft to the rear and therefore doesn’t use a centre-bearing.

Technical sources back this up. The Daihatsu Gran Move/Pyzar workshop manual for the G300‑series details a FWD transaxle with left and right drive shafts in the Drivetrain section and does not include a propeller shaft section for 2WD models. The Daihatsu Electronic Parts Catalogue for the Gran Move (Australian/NZ 2WD models) lists front drive shafts, CV joints, hubs, and wheel bearings, but no tailshaft or centre support bearing group. Market specification sheets for the 1998 Gran Move also state front‑wheel drive only.

A quick note on terminology: some FWD cars run a right‑hand intermediate (extension) shaft with a small carrier/support bearing bolted to the engine block to keep the shafts equal length. That’s not the same as a tailshaft centre-bearing. On many Gran Move 2WD variants, there’s no separate prop shaft support, if an intermediate shaft is fitted, it’s classed and serviced as a driveshaft/carrier bearing assembly, not a centre-bearing.

Chasing a vibration or rumble and thinking “centre-bearing”? On this vehicle, look elsewhere first:

• Outer/inner CV joints and split boots
• Front wheel bearings and hub play
• Engine and gearbox mounts
• Tyre condition and balance, and exhaust hangers touching the body
• Any intermediate shaft carrier bearing (if fitted) for play or noise

If you’re unsure whether your specific Gran Move has an intermediate shaft setup, a quick visual check from under the car or a glance at the parts catalogue for your VIN will settle it. But as far as a tailshaft centre-bearing goes, it’s not applicable to the 1998 Daihatsu Gran Move FWD models.

Popular questions about 1998 Daihatsu Gran Move centre-bearing

Does a 1998 Daihatsu Gran Move have a centre-bearing?
No. The Gran Move is front‑wheel drive with no rear propeller shaft, so there’s no tailshaft centre-bearing fitted. Workshop manuals and the Daihatsu parts catalogue for AU/NZ 2WD models don’t list a centre support bearing.

What’s the bearing on the right‑hand shaft people talk about — is that a centre-bearing?
That’s an intermediate (extension) shaft carrier bearing on some FWD layouts. It supports the long right shaft, but it’s different to a tailshaft centre-bearing. If fitted, it’s serviced as part of the driveshaft assembly and checked for roughness or play.

I can hear a droning noise — could it be a failed centre-bearing?
Unlikely on a Gran Move, because there isn’t one. Check CV joints, front wheel bearings, tyre wear and balance, engine/gearbox mounts, and the exhaust mounts. If your car has an intermediate shaft carrier bearing, include it in the inspection.