Parts for your 2005 Honda Stream-Centre bearing

2005 Honda Stream centre-bearing: what’s actually fitted

For a 2005 Honda Stream, a traditional tailshaft centre-bearing (also called a centre support bearing) is not fitted on the common front‑wheel‑drive models sold and imported into Australia and New Zealand. This is backed by Honda’s factory information: the Honda Stream Workshop Manual (Driveline/Axle) details a transverse transaxle with two front driveshafts and a short right‑hand intermediate shaft with a bracketed carrier bearing, not a tailshaft centre-bearing. Likewise, the Honda Electronic Parts Catalogue (EPC) lists no propeller shaft assembly for RN1/RN3 FWD variants, while it does list a “Propeller Shaft (4WD)” with a centre support bearing for the less common RN2/RN4 Real Time 4WD models.

Why it isn’t used on most 2005 Streams is simple: the FWD layout doesn’t have a long tailshaft running to a rear differential, so there’s nothing that needs a centre support along the vehicle’s length. Instead, the Stream uses equal/near‑equal length front driveshafts for good torque steer control, with the right‑hand intermediate shaft supported by its own carrier (support) bearing bolted to the engine block. Some people casually call that carrier the “centre bearing”, but it’s a different part and job.

If an owner is chasing a droning or vibration and thinking “centre-bearing”, on an FWD 2005 Stream the likely culprits are:

• Right‑hand intermediate shaft carrier bearing (common wear point)
• Front wheel bearings
• Outer CV joints or inner tripod joints
• Engine/gearbox mounts or tyre/road noise

There is an exception: Japan‑market 4WD Streams (RN2/RN4, Real Time 4WD) do have a two‑piece propeller shaft with a centre support bearing. The Honda EPC’s “Propeller Shaft (4WD)” diagram shows this assembly, and the Workshop Manual’s 4WD sections cover inspection of bearing play and mount integrity. For owners of these rarer 4WD cars, a worn centre support typically presents as a low‑frequency rumble or vibration between about 40–80 km/h that changes with throttle. Inspection involves checking rubber isolator condition, shaft alignment, and bearing roughness.

Technical sources referenced: Honda Stream 2000–2006 Workshop Manual (Driveline/Axle, and 4WD propeller shaft sections), Honda Electronic Parts Catalogue (EPC) for RN1–RN5 chassis, noting absence of a propeller shaft on FWD and presence of a centre support on 4WD assemblies.

Popular questions

Does a 2005 Honda Stream have a centre-bearing?
Most in Aus/NZ are FWD and do not have a tailshaft centre-bearing. They use a right‑hand intermediate shaft with a carrier bearing instead. Only the Japan‑market Real Time 4WD versions (RN2/RN4) have a propeller shaft with a centre support bearing.

How can someone tell if their Stream is the 4WD model that uses a centre-bearing?
Look underneath for a propeller shaft running to a rear differential, and confirm a rear diff housing behind the rear axle. The build plate/chassis code can also help: RN2/RN4 denote 4WD in this generation. If neither a tailshaft nor rear diff is present, it’s FWD and has no centre support bearing.

What’s the common “bearing” that fails on FWD 2005 Streams?
The right‑hand intermediate shaft carrier bearing is the usual suspect. Symptoms include a steady droning that rises with road speed, slight vibration on light throttle, and sometimes grease seepage. Replacement involves removing the right driveshaft and intermediate shaft, pressing off the old bearing, and installing a quality replacement with correct preload and bracket torque.