Parts for your 2002 Honda Civic-Centre bearing

2002 Honda Civic centre-bearing — do they have one?

Short answer: for most 2002 Honda Civic models, a centre-bearing isn’t used or relevant. The 2002 Civic sold in Australia and New Zealand (commonly ES/EM with the 1.7L D17 engine, manual or auto) is front‑wheel drive and runs two front CV driveshafts—there’s no tailshaft/prop shaft down the middle of the car, so there’s nothing that needs a centre support bearing.

Technical references back this up. The Honda 2001–2005 Civic Service Manual (Driveshaft section) depicts left and right CV shafts only, with no centre support bearing in the driveline. Honda’s electronic parts catalogue for D17-powered ES/EM models lists the front axle/driveshaft assemblies without any centre support or “carrier” bearing. Major aftermarket catalogues for 2002 Civic ES/EM likewise don’t offer a centre-bearing for these variants, which is typically a good indicator the part isn’t fitted from factory.

Why isn’t a centre-bearing used? Centre-bearings are common on rear‑wheel drive or AWD vehicles with a long, two‑piece tailshaft where a mid‑span support is needed. The 2002 Civic’s transaxle sits up front and sends power directly to the front wheels via short half‑shafts, so there’s no long shaft to support. That layout keeps weight, cost, and complexity down—and eliminates the need for a centre support.

There is one notable exception in the broader 7th‑gen Civic family: performance models with K‑series engines (e.g., EP3 Civic Type R) use an intermediate shaft on the passenger side, supported by a carrier bearing bolted to the engine block. Some people colloquially call that a “centre-bearing”, but it’s specific to those K‑series setups. The mainstream 2002 Civic ES/EM with the D17 doesn’t have that intermediate shaft bearing.

If a 2002 Civic owner is chasing driveline noises or vibration and has been told to “check the centre-bearing”, it’s worth redirecting diagnosis to the usual FWD suspects:

• Outer and inner CV joints and their boots (clicking on turns, vibration under load)
• Front wheel bearings (road-speed hum that changes when turning)
• Engine and transmission mounts (shudder on take‑off, clunks on shift)
• Tyre condition and balance (vibration at certain speeds)

For anyone with the EP3 Type R: that model does have an intermediate shaft carrier bearing. If there’s play, roughness, or noise near the back of the engine on the passenger side, inspection and replacement of that carrier bearing and its bracket bolts is the go—use quality parts, torque to spec per the Honda workshop manual, and recheck driveshaft seals and alignment during reassembly.

Popular questions about 2002 Honda Civic centre-bearing

Does a 2002 Honda Civic ES/EM have a centre-bearing?
No. The common 1.7L D17-powered 2002 Civic in Australia and New Zealand is FWD with two CV shafts and no tailshaft, so there’s no centre-bearing in the driveline. Workshop manuals and OEM parts catalogues for these models don’t list or show a centre support bearing.

What should be checked instead of a centre-bearing if there’s vibration?
Start with CV joints/boots, front wheel bearings, engine and gearbox mounts, and tyre balance or out‑of‑round. These are the usual culprits on a FWD Civic when there’s humming, shudder, or vibration under load or at highway speeds.

Which 2002 Civics might have something like a centre-bearing?
The EP3 Civic Type R (K‑series) uses an intermediate shaft with a carrier bearing on the passenger side. It’s not a tailshaft centre-bearing, but it does support the intermediate shaft. The mainstream ES/EM D17 models don’t have this component.