Parts for your 1998 Nissan Primera-Centre bearing

1998 Nissan Primera centre-bearing — does it have one?

Short answer: on a typical 1998 Nissan Primera (P11) that’s front‑wheel drive, a tailshaft centre-bearing isn’t used. That bearing only appears on the relatively rare 4WD/ATTESA variants (chassis codes such as WHP11/WQP11) that have a propeller shaft running to a rear differential. This isn’t just hearsay — the Nissan Primera P11 Factory Service Manual lists a Propeller Shaft section for 4WD models only, while front‑wheel‑drive P11/WP11 models have no prop shaft section at all. The Nissan Electronic Parts Catalogue (FAST/EPC) backs this up: a centre support bearing is listed under Group 37 (Propeller Shaft) for 4WD models, with no equivalent part for FWD cars. General workshop references like the Haynes manual for Primera (’90–’02) also describe the car as front‑drive with no tailshaft on mainstream models.

Why no centre-bearing on most 1998 Primeras? The drivetrain layout does the job without it. Being a transverse front‑drive setup, the gearbox and diff sit up front with two short driveshafts to the wheels. There’s no long tailshaft to support, so there’s no need for a centre support bearing. What can cause confusion is the right‑hand driveshaft’s intermediate support bearing (sometimes called a carrier bearing). It bolts to the engine block/subframe and supports the longer RH shaft, but it’s not the same thing as a tailshaft centre-bearing and lives in a different part of the car.

If someone’s chasing a “centre-bearing” noise on a FWD Primera, they’re usually dealing with one of a few culprits: the RH driveshaft support bearing, inner CV joints, wheel bearings, or even tired engine/gearbox mounts causing vibration under load. Tyre condition and balance can add their two cents’ worth too, especially at motorway speeds.

For owners of the 4WD P11 variants: those cars do run a propeller shaft with a centre support bearing. If there’s a droning that changes with road speed (not engine revs) or a shudder on take‑off, that centre support bearing is worth inspecting. On those models, prop shaft alignment, U‑joint condition, and mount integrity all matter, and replacement typically involves dropping the shaft assembly, pressing in a new bearing, and re‑securing the support with the correct preload and alignment per the FSM.

Technical sources referenced

• Nissan Primera P11 Series Factory Service Manual (1997–2002): Driveline/Propeller Shaft section (4WD models only), Front Axle sections for FWD.
• Nissan Electronic Parts Catalogue (FAST/EPC): Group 37 Propeller Shaft — centre support bearing listed for WHP11/WQP11, not listed for FWD P11/WP11.
• Haynes Owners Workshop Manual, Nissan Primera 1990–2002 (petrol): front‑wheel‑drive layout, no tailshaft on mainstream P11 models.

Popular questions

Does my 1998 Nissan Primera have a centre-bearing?
Most don’t. If it’s a front‑wheel‑drive P11 (the common setup in AU/NZ), there’s no tailshaft and no centre-bearing. Only the 4WD models (e.g., WHP11/WQP11) use a prop shaft with a centre support bearing.

How can I tell if my Primera is 4WD and actually has a centre-bearing?
Peek underneath: if there’s a propeller shaft running from the gearbox to a rear diff, it’s 4WD. You can also check the VIN plate for a chassis code like WHP11. No tailshaft visible? Then there’s no centre-bearing.

I’m getting a droning/vibration and was told it’s the centre-bearing — what should I check on a FWD 1998 Primera?
On a FWD P11, look at the right‑hand driveshaft support bearing, inner and outer CV joints, front wheel bearings, engine/gearbox mounts, and tyre condition/balance. Those are the usual suspects that mimic “centre-bearing” symptoms on these cars.