Parts for your 2005 Nissan Primera-Centre bearing

2005 Nissan Primera centre-bearing — is it actually there?

Short answer: a traditional centre-bearing isn’t used on the 2005 Nissan Primera (P12). Technical references including the Nissan Primera P12 factory service manual (Front Axle/Driveline sections) and the Nissan FAST electronic parts catalogue show no propeller shaft or centre support bearing on this model. The Primera P12 is built on a front‑wheel drive transaxle layout, so there’s no long tailshaft running to the rear that would require a centre-bearing. Haynes‑style workshop coverage for the P12 era also treats the car strictly as FWD with front drive shafts and CV joints, not a two‑piece propshaft.

Why it isn’t used comes down to the drivetrain design. The gearbox and differential are integrated in the front transaxle, and drive is sent to the front wheels via two short halfshafts with CV joints. Because there’s no rear differential and no long, two‑piece shaft, there’s nothing that needs a centre support to control whip, vibration or alignment — which is the whole job of a centre-bearing in rear‑ or all‑wheel drive setups.

One point that often causes confusion: some Primera P12 variants use a right‑hand intermediate (jack) shaft with a bracket and support bearing to balance driveshaft lengths and reduce torque steer. That’s a front driveshaft support bearing, not a propshaft centre-bearing. Parts catalogues list it under the front axle/driveshaft group rather than any propeller‑shaft section, and procedures for it sit with front CV shaft service, not tailshaft work.

If someone’s chasing a “centre-bearing” noise on a Primera, it’s worth checking the usual FWD suspects instead:

• Front wheel bearings (common humming/rumble that changes with speed)
• Outer and inner CV joints (clicking on lock, vibration on load)
• Right‑hand intermediate shaft support bearing (if fitted) for play or roughness
• Tyre cupping or uneven wear, and engine/gearbox mounts

Bottom line: a classic propshaft centre-bearing isn’t relevant to the 2005 Primera. If a listing mentions one, it’s either generic catalogue noise or it’s referring to the RH intermediate shaft support bearing used on some engines and transmissions.

Popular questions about a 2005 Nissan Primera “centre-bearing”

Does a 2005 Nissan Primera have a centre-bearing?
No, not a propshaft centre-bearing. The P12 is front‑wheel drive, so there’s no rear propeller shaft to support. Some cars do have a right‑hand intermediate driveshaft with a support bearing, which is a different part and lives in the front driveline.

What’s commonly mistaken for a centre-bearing on a Primera?
The right‑hand intermediate driveshaft support bearing. It’s mounted to a bracket on the engine/trans and supports the short jack shaft. Parts suppliers sometimes label it like a centre-bearing, but it’s part of the front axle assembly.

Humming noise at 60–100 km/h — could that be a centre-bearing?
On a Primera, that sort of hum is more likely a front wheel bearing, tyre feathering, or a worn CV/inner joint. If fitted, the intermediate shaft support bearing can also rumble, but a true propshaft centre-bearing isn’t present on this model.