Parts for your 2008 Honda Elysion-Centre bearing

2008 Honda Elysion centre-bearing: what’s fitted, what’s not, and what to do about it

For a 2008 Honda Elysion, whether a centre-bearing is relevant depends on the drivetrain. Technical references show the front‑wheel‑drive (FF) Elysion does not use a propeller shaft and therefore has no centre-bearing. The 4WD variants (often catalogued as RR4/RR5) do have a two‑piece propeller shaft that runs to the rear diff, supported mid‑way by a centre-bearing (also called a propeller shaft centre support bearing).

Why the FF Elysion doesn’t use one: the engine and transaxle drive the front wheels via left/right CV shafts only. There’s no long prop shaft under the vehicle, so there’s nothing to support with a centre-bearing. Some FF Hondas do have an intermediate (right‑hand) driveshaft support bearing, which can be confused with a centre-bearing, but that’s a different part serving a different purpose and mounted to the engine block, not the body tunnel.

For 4WD Elysion owners: centre-bearing purpose and care
The centre-bearing on a 4WD Elysion cradles the two‑piece propeller shaft, keeping it aligned while letting it spin smoothly at road speed. It sits in a rubber isolator to soak up vibration and mounts to the body with a bracket. When it’s healthy, the driveline feels smooth, when it’s tired, you’ll often get a rumbling or droning that rises with speed, a thump on take‑off, or a shudder under load.

Servicing advice is straightforward. During routine servicing (say every 20,000–30,000 km), a quick visual and hands‑on check goes a long way: look for cracked or perished rubber in the support, torn dust shields, and any signs the bearing is loose in its housing. With the vehicle safely raised, gently rock the prop shaft near the support, excessive play or roughness when turning by hand points to a worn centre-bearing. It’s also smart to check adjacent components at the same time—universal joints, prop shaft flange bolts, and rear diff mountings—because they all share loads and symptoms.

Replacement isn’t complex but does need care. Mark the prop shaft flanges before disassembly so it goes back in the same orientation—this helps maintain balance and avoids new vibrations. Support the exhaust and any heat shields, undo the centre bracket, then drop the shaft assemblies carefully. Many replacements are supplied as a bearing and rubber support, if the bearing is pressed onto the shaft, a workshop with a press is recommended. After refit, torque the fasteners to spec and road‑test for any residual vibration. If a new shudder appears, recheck alignment, flange orientation, and mount tightness. Given the age of these vehicles, pairing a new centre-bearing with fresh prop shaft bolts and inspecting the diff mount bush is good preventative maintenance for Kiwi and Aussie conditions.

• Typical symptoms of a failing centre-bearing:
  • Rumble or drone at 40–80 km/h that changes with throttle
  • Thump or clunk on take‑off
  • Shudder under load or uphill
• Inspection tips:
  • Check rubber isolator cracking or separation
  • Feel for roughness when rotating the shaft by hand
  • Verify prop shaft flange bolts are snug and not elongated

Technical sources referenced

• Honda Elysion Service Manual (Driveline/Axle, 4WD Propeller Shaft section): shows two‑piece propeller shaft with centre support bearing on 4WD models, FF section shows no propeller shaft.
• Honda Electronic Parts Catalogue (EPC) for Elysion RR4/RR5 (4WD): parts listing includes “Center Bearing/Center Support” within the Propeller Shaft assembly, EPC for RR1/RR3 (FF) contains no propeller shaft or centre-bearing listing.
• Honda Real Time 4WD system overview: describes rear drive via propeller shaft on AWD variants, necessitating a mid‑shaft support.

Popular questions

How can someone tell if their 2008 Elysion actually has a centre-bearing?
If it’s 4WD, it will. Look under the vehicle: a long propeller shaft runs from the front to the rear diff, with a bracketed bearing roughly mid‑length. FF models won’t have a rear diff or a prop shaft, so no centre-bearing.

Is it safe to keep driving with a noisy centre-bearing?
Short‑term, gentle driving might be possible, but it’s not wise. A failing support can escalate vibration, fatigue surrounding mounts, and stress the prop shaft and diff. Plan a prompt inspection and repair.

Should the centre-bearing be greased during servicing?
The bearing itself is typically sealed and not serviceable. The best “service” is periodic inspection, keeping fasteners tight, and addressing any rubber deterioration or imbalance issues early.