Parts for your 2007 Honda Odyssey-Centre bearing

2007 Honda Odyssey centre-bearing: is it actually a thing?

For the 2007 Honda Odyssey sold in Australia and New Zealand, a centre-bearing isn’t fitted or required. That generation Odyssey runs a front-wheel drive transaxle, sending power through two short front driveshafts with CV joints, not a long, two-piece tailshaft. A centre-bearing (also called a centre support bearing) is a part used on rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicles with a long propeller shaft, where it supports the shaft mid-span. With no tailshaft in the Odyssey’s layout, there’s nothing for a centre-bearing to support.

This is backed by technical documentation: the Honda Odyssey Service Manual for the 2005–2010 model family lists Driveline/Axle procedures only for front driveshafts and CV joints, with no propeller shaft or centre support bearing section. Likewise, Honda’s electronic parts catalogues for the RB-series Odyssey (AU/NZ) don’t list a centre-bearing component. Sales specs for the 2007 AU/NZ Odyssey also show it as front-wheel drive only.

Why isn’t a centre-bearing used on a 2007 Odyssey? It comes down to the drivetrain design. The Odyssey’s transverse engine and transaxle keep the driveline short and compact, so there’s no long shaft running down the length of the vehicle. That means less weight, fewer moving parts, and fewer vibration points—so no need for a centre-bearing.

Worth noting: some Hondas use an intermediate (right-hand) driveshaft with a support bearing bolted to the engine block. People sometimes call this a carrier bearing, but it’s not the same as a tailshaft centre-bearing. If there’s a vibration under load or a humming at certain speeds, it’s more likely to be one of the usual FWD suspects rather than a non-existent centre-bearing.

• Front wheel bearings
• CV joints or driveshafts (including the intermediate shaft support bearing)
• Engine and transmission mounts
• Tyre condition and balance (cupping or flat-spotting can drone)

If you’ve heard that some Odysseys use a centre-bearing, that generally refers to specific all-wheel drive variants in other markets (not sold in AU/NZ in 2007). For local vehicles, a centre-bearing isn’t part of servicing because it isn’t fitted.

FAQs

Does a 2007 Honda Odyssey have a centre-bearing?

No. The AU/NZ 2007 Odyssey is front-wheel drive and doesn’t run a propeller shaft, so there’s no centre-bearing to service or replace. Workshop manuals and parts catalogues for this model confirm there’s no centre support bearing in the driveline.

I’m getting a vibration—could it be the centre-bearing?

Unlikely, because the vehicle doesn’t have one. Check the front wheel bearings, CV joints, the intermediate shaft support bearing on the right-hand driveshaft, engine/gearbox mounts, and tyre condition/balance. These are common causes of droning or vibration in a front-drive Odyssey.

Which Odysseys use a centre-bearing?

Only models with a long propeller shaft need a centre-bearing—typically rear-drive or certain all-wheel drive variants for other markets. The 2007 AU/NZ Odyssey doesn’t fall into that category. If in doubt, check the drivetrain spec for your VIN.