Parts for your 2002 Honda Odyssey-Centre bearing

2002 Honda Odyssey centre-bearing — what owners need to know

Short answer: a traditional prop-shaft centre support bearing isn’t fitted to the 2002 Honda Odyssey. Technical references that back this up include the Honda Factory Service Manual (Driveline/Axle section, 2002 Odyssey), which details a front-wheel-drive layout with left and right driveshafts and an intermediate (stub) shaft, and the Honda Electronic Parts Catalogue for this model, which lists no propeller shaft or centre support bearing group for the RL1/RA6–RA9 Odyssey. Centre support bearings are typically used on rear‑wheel drive or all‑wheel drive vehicles with a long, two‑piece propeller shaft, the Odyssey’s transverse V6/front‑drive setup simply doesn’t have that component.

Why isn’t a centre-bearing used here? The Odyssey’s driveline is designed around a transverse engine and transaxle driving the front wheels. Instead of a long tail-shaft running down the middle of the vehicle, it uses two front CV axles. To help control torque steer and keep axle lengths balanced, Honda uses an intermediate shaft on the passenger side that bolts to the engine block with a bracket. That assembly has a support (carrier) bearing for the intermediate shaft, but it’s not a “centre-bearing” for a prop shaft. Some aftermarket listings blur this terminology, yet Honda’s manuals and parts diagrams make the distinction clear: there’s no centre support bearing in the sense used on RWD/AWD vehicles.

If an owner is chasing a “centre-bearing” because of vibration or humming, it’s worth focusing on the parts the Odyssey actually has. Common culprits include:

• Intermediate shaft carrier bearing (right side) — may drone or rumble when worn.
• Front CV joints/half‑shafts — clicking on turns, vibration under load.
• Engine and trans mounts — excess movement causing shudder on take‑off.
• Front wheel bearings and tyre balance — growling or speed‑related vibration.

Technically grounded pointers: the Honda Factory Service Manual for the 2002 Odyssey (Helm publication, Driveline/Axle), the Honda Electronic Parts Catalogue for this chassis, and standard driveline practice texts all confirm that centre support bearings are used on multi‑piece prop shafts, which the Odyssey does not have. For servicing, attention should be on the front driveline components noted above, especially the intermediate shaft carrier bearing and CV axles, if noise or vibration appears.

Does a 2002 Honda Odyssey have a centre support bearing?

No. This model is front‑wheel drive and doesn’t use a two‑piece prop shaft, so there’s no centre support bearing. Any listing that says otherwise is likely using generic driveline terminology.

What’s the “bearing in the middle” people mention on Odysseys?

They’re usually talking about the intermediate shaft carrier bearing on the passenger side. It supports the short shaft between the transaxle and the outer CV axle. If it wears, you’ll hear a steady hum that changes with road speed, not engine rpm.

How do they fix a vibration that sounds like a bad centre-bearing on an Odyssey?

Work through the actual front‑drive suspects: check tyre balance and condition, inspect both front wheel bearings, examine the CV axles for play, and check the intermediate shaft carrier bearing and its bracket. Engine and trans mounts are worth a look if there’s shudder on take‑off.