Parts for your 1998 Toyota Altezza-Centre bearing

1998 Toyota Altezza centre-bearing: does it have one and what to do with it

Technical sources confirm the 1998 Toyota Altezza (GXE10/SXE10) runs a two-piece propeller shaft with a rubber-mounted centre support bearing. The Toyota Electronic Parts Catalog (EPC) for GXE10/SXE10 lists the “Bearing Assy, Centre Support” under the propeller shaft group (Toyota group code 37230). The Lexus/Toyota Repair Manual for the XE10 platform includes a Propeller Shaft section with removal/installation of the centre support bearing and bracket, and the Driveline diagrams in the Toyota New Car Features manual for the model show a split tailshaft supported mid-length. So, yes—this Altezza does use a centre-bearing.

On this model, the centre-bearing sits midway along the two-piece tailshaft, cradled in a rubber isolator and bolted to the tunnel. Its job is to keep the shaft aligned, control whip at speed, and damp driveline vibration. When it’s healthy, the car feels smooth on take-off and at highway pace, when it’s tired, there’ll be a thrum or shudder under load, especially around 40–70 km/h, plus a rubbery clunk as the driveline takes up.

As part of routine servicing on a 1998 Toyota Altezza, a workshop will usually:

• Visually check the centre-bearing’s rubber for cracking, tearing, or separation from the inner race.
• Spin and load the shaft by hand while raised, listening for rumble from the bearing and feeling for play.
• Inspect the bracket bushes and mounting hardware for looseness or elongation.
• Assess related items: universal joints, flex couplings (if fitted), and tailshaft balance weights.

If replacement’s needed, it’s a remove-and-refit job for the two-piece shaft. Proper practice is to mark the flanges and yoke phasing before removal, drop the exhaust heat shields as needed, and keep the halves aligned so balance isn’t upset. The old bearing is pressed off the shaft, and the new one is pressed on with the correct orientation of the dust shield and support. Bracket bolts are torqued to spec, and the shop road-tests for any residual vibration. If the rubber has completely let go or there’s corrosion on the journal, it’s wise to have a driveline specialist check straightness and balance, as age and hard launches can tweak these shafts. Genuine or quality OEM-equivalent bearings last well, paired with fresh gearbox and diff mounts, they restore that tidy, factory-fresh feel the Altezza is known for.

Popular questions

Does a 1998 Toyota Altezza have a centre-bearing?
Yes. The XE10 Altezza uses a two-piece propeller shaft supported by a centre-bearing and bracket. This is documented in Toyota’s EPC (propeller shaft group 37230) and the platform repair manual procedures for centre support bearing service.

What are the signs the centre-bearing needs replacing?
Common symptoms include a droning or humming that rises with road speed, a shudder on take-off or during light throttle at 40–70 km/h, and a dull clunk as the driveline loads. Visual cracks or separation in the bearing’s rubber support are a giveaway.

Can the centre-bearing be changed on its own?
It can, provided the tailshaft is marked and kept in phase, and the new bearing is pressed on correctly. Many owners have a driveline shop handle it to preserve balance and check the universal joints while it’s out.