Parts for your 2001 Honda Odyssey-Centre bearing

2001 Honda Odyssey centre-bearing — is one fitted?

Short answer: a centre-bearing isn’t used on the 2001 Honda Odyssey. Referencing the Honda Service Manual for the 1999–2004 Odyssey (Helm) and the Honda Electronic Parts Catalogue for the 2001 model (chassis RL1), this vehicle is a front‑wheel‑drive transaxle layout with no propeller (tail) shaft, so there’s no tailshaft centre support bearing to service or replace. The factory parts listings show no “propeller shaft” or “centre support bearing” group for this model. Instead, they show two CV halfshafts and a right‑hand intermediate shaft that’s carried by a bracket and bearing on the engine block — Honda calls that an intermediate or carrier bearing, not a tailshaft centre-bearing.

Why isn’t a centre-bearing used? Centre-bearings live in rear‑wheel‑drive or all‑wheel‑drive setups that run a long, two‑piece tailshaft to the rear differential. They sit mid‑span to stop tailshaft whip and vibration. The 2001 Odyssey drives the front wheels only, the gearbox and differential are in a single transaxle, and short CV shafts deliver torque directly to the hubs. With no long tailshaft, there’s simply nothing for a centre-bearing to support.

What people sometimes mean by “centre-bearing” on this Odyssey is that right‑hand intermediate shaft support bearing. Different job, different location. If there’s a droning or growl that changes with throttle, or vibration under load, the likely culprits on this model are:

• Right‑hand intermediate shaft carrier bearing (engine‑side support)
• Front wheel bearings
• Outer or inner CV joints
• Engine or trans mounts allowing excess movement

For anyone chasing noises: road speed–dependent humming that doesn’t change much with throttle is often a wheel bearing, a rhythmic click on turns points to an outer CV, a rumble that intensifies on acceleration can be the intermediate shaft bearing. A good workshop can confirm by on‑hoist stethoscope checks and play tests against the service manual procedures.

Technical sources referenced: Honda Odyssey 1999–2004 Service Manual (Helm, Driveline/Axle and Specifications sections) and Honda Electronic Parts Catalogue for 2001 RL1, which list front CV halfshafts and the RH intermediate shaft with its carrier bearing, and no propeller shaft or centre support bearing.

Popular questions

Does a 2001 Honda Odyssey have a centre-bearing?
No. The 2001 Odyssey is front‑wheel drive and doesn’t use a tailshaft, so there’s no tailshaft centre-bearing to support. Factory manuals and parts catalogues list only front CV shafts and a right‑hand intermediate shaft with its own support bearing.

What part are people usually referring to instead of a centre-bearing on this model?
They’re often talking about the right‑hand intermediate shaft carrier bearing. It’s bolted to the engine block and supports the short intermediate shaft between the transaxle and the RH outer CV shaft. If worn, it can cause a rumble under load that’s sometimes mistaken for a wheel bearing.

How do you tell if the noise is the intermediate shaft bearing, a CV joint, or a wheel bearing?
A click on tight turns points to an outer CV. A constant road‑speed hum that doesn’t change with throttle is usually a wheel bearing. A growl that gets louder on acceleration or when loading the RH side can be the intermediate shaft bearing. A technician can confirm by checking for play, spinning wheels on a hoist, and using a stethoscope at the bearing bracket.