Parts for your 2006 Honda Stream-Centre bearing

2006 Honda Stream centre-bearing: is it even a thing?

Short answer: for most 2006 Honda Stream models seen in Australia and New Zealand, a centre-bearing isn’t used or relevant. The 2006 Stream is primarily front‑wheel drive (FF). In FF layouts there’s no long, two‑piece propeller shaft running to the rear wheels, so there’s no need for a prop‑shaft centre support bearing.

This call isn’t guesswork. The Honda Electronic Parts Catalogue (EPC) and the Honda Stream RN6–RN9 Service Manual (Global Service Information) list no propeller shaft or centre support bearing for FF variants (RN6/RN8). Those same sources do list a propeller shaft with a centre support bearing for Japanese‑market 4WD variants (RN7/RN9). So, unless the vehicle is the JDM 4WD spec, a centre‑bearing doesn’t feature on a 2006 Stream.

Why it isn’t used on FF models: Honda mounts the engine transversely and sends drive to the front wheels via two short driveshafts. There’s nothing running down the middle of the car that would need a mid‑span support. That keeps weight down, packaging tidy, and maintenance simpler. The only “bearing in the middle” some owners hear about is the right‑hand driveshaft’s intermediate (carrier) bearing. That’s a different part entirely, bolted to the engine block to support the longer half‑shaft—handy to know if someone’s mixing up terms.

What owners should focus on instead of a centre‑bearing on FF models:

• Front CV joints and boots: look for splits, grease fling, or clicking on full lock.
• Intermediate shaft support bearing (RH side): listen for a droning or rumble that changes with road speed, not engine speed.
• Transmission mounts: excess movement can mimic driveline vibration.

Got a Japanese‑import 4WD Stream? That’s the exception. The RN7/RN9 4WD uses a propeller shaft with a centre support bearing to carry torque to the rear diff. If that bearing wears, expect a rumble or vibration that shows up at certain speeds and on throttle. That part is serviceable, but check the prop shaft couplings and rear diff mounts at the same time so the whole driveline’s sorted in one go.

Popular questions about the 2006 Honda Stream centre-bearing

Does my 2006 Honda Stream have a centre-bearing?
Most Aussie and Kiwi 2006 Streams are front‑wheel drive (RN6/RN8), so there’s no centre‑bearing fitted. Only the Japanese‑market 4WD variants (RN7/RN9) run a propeller shaft with a centre support bearing.

How can I tell if my Stream is 4WD and may have a centre-bearing?
Check the chassis code on the build plate or rego data: RN7 or RN9 indicates 4WD for this generation. A quick look underneath also helps—if there’s a propeller shaft running to a rear differential, it’s 4WD and will have a centre support bearing.

Is the bearing on the right‑hand driveshaft the same as a centre-bearing?
No. That’s the intermediate (carrier) bearing for the longer front driveshaft on FF models. It supports the half‑shaft near the engine block and isn’t related to a prop‑shaft centre support bearing. Different job, different location, different symptoms.