Parts for your 2006 Honda Odyssey-Centre bearing

Does a 2006 Honda Odyssey use a centre-bearing?

Short answer: no. On the 2006 Honda Odyssey sold in Australia and New Zealand (RB1) and in North America (RL3/RL4), a tailshaft centre-bearing isn’t fitted or required. That’s confirmed by the Honda Service Manual (Driveline/Axle sections) and Honda’s electronic parts catalogues for these models, which list front driveshafts and an intermediate shaft only—there’s no propeller shaft assembly and therefore no centre support bearing to service.

A centre-bearing (often called a tailshaft centre support or carrier bearing) is used on rear‑wheel‑drive or all‑wheel‑drive vehicles that have a long, two‑piece propeller shaft. Its job is to hold the middle of that shaft steady so it doesn’t whip around at speed. The 2006 Odyssey is front‑wheel drive with a transverse transaxle, so it drives the front wheels via two CV half‑shafts. With no tailshaft running down the middle, there’s nowhere for a traditional centre-bearing to live—so Honda didn’t fit one.

What sometimes causes confusion is the Odyssey’s right‑hand intermediate shaft. It’s a short shaft that helps equalise the length of the front driveshafts, and it runs in a bracket with a pressed‑in support bearing. Some parts listings and forums casually call that a “carrier” or “centre” bearing, but technically it’s an intermediate shaft support bearing, not a tailshaft centre-bearing.

For anyone chasing a vibration or rumble and wondering about a “centre-bearing” on their 2006 Odyssey, the sensible checks are:

• Front CV shafts and boots for play, splits, and grease sling
• Right‑hand intermediate shaft support bearing for roughness or free play
• Engine and transmission mounts for collapse or tearing
• Wheel balance and tyre condition

If the intermediate shaft bearing is noisy (often a mid‑car droning that changes with load), replacement involves removing the shaft from the bracket and pressing in a new bearing, or swapping the shaft assembly depending on parts availability. Following Honda workshop procedures and torque specs is important, and using a quality bearing (OE or reputable aftermarket) helps keep it quiet long‑term. No tailshaft alignment is needed because there isn’t one on this model.

Technical references: Honda Odyssey Service Manual (2005–2010, Driveline/Axle), Honda electronic parts catalogues for RB1/RL3/RL4, which show no propeller shaft or centre support bearing for AU/NZ and North American 2006 variants.

Popular questions about a 2006 Honda Odyssey “centre-bearing”

Does a 2006 Honda Odyssey have a centre-bearing?

No. The AU/NZ RB1 and North American RL3/RL4 Odysseys are front‑wheel drive with no propeller shaft, so there’s no tailshaft centre-bearing fitted. Honda’s service manual and parts catalogues list only front CV shafts and a right‑hand intermediate shaft with a support bearing.

What part do people mean when they say “centre-bearing” on a FWD Odyssey?

They’re usually referring to the right‑hand intermediate shaft support bearing. It looks like a small carrier in a bracket near the back of the engine. It’s not a tailshaft centre support—just a bearing supporting the short intermediate shaft used to balance the front driveshaft lengths.

How can someone tell if the intermediate shaft bearing is failing?

Common clues are a mid‑car hum or growl that changes with throttle, plus vibration under load. With the vehicle safely raised, a technician checks for roughness when spinning the shaft by hand and for radial play at the bearing. If it’s worn, the fix is to press in a new bearing or replace the shaft assembly and re‑torque the bracket and axle hardware to spec.