Parts for your 2008 Honda Odyssey-Centre bearing

2008 Honda Odyssey centre-bearing — what’s fitted and what’s not

After checking technical sources, it’s clear a traditional centre-bearing (tailshaft centre support bearing) isn’t used on the 2008 Honda Odyssey. Honda’s factory service information for the 2005–2010 Odyssey platform describes a front‑wheel‑drive transaxle with left and right CV half‑shafts, and no two‑piece tailshaft. Likewise, Honda’s parts catalogues list the front driveshafts and, on some variants, a right‑hand intermediate (jack) shaft with a carrier/support bearing, but there’s no propeller‑shaft centre support bearing in the system.

Why isn’t a centre-bearing used? Because the Odyssey drives the front wheels. Centre-bearings live in rear‑wheel‑drive or all‑wheel‑drive layouts that use a long, two‑piece tailshaft, the bearing supports the shaft at the vehicle’s midpoint to control vibration and alignment. The Odyssey’s transaxle bolts directly to the engine, and short CV shafts send torque straight to the front hubs, so there’s no long tailshaft to support.

Worth noting: some Odyssey variants have a right‑hand intermediate shaft running from the transmission to the right CV axle. That shaft uses a carrier/support bearing bolted to the engine block or bracket. People sometimes call it a “centre bearing”, but it’s not the same as a tailshaft centre support. If owners are chasing a vibration or rumbling noise that changes with road speed, a tired intermediate shaft bearing could be a suspect, along with CV joints, tyres, wheels, and engine mounts.

Technical references consulted:

• Honda Odyssey Workshop/Service Manual (2005–2010, Driveline/Axle sections): details FWD transaxle, CV shafts, and optional intermediate shaft carrier bearing, no propeller shaft or centre support bearing.
• Honda Electronic Parts Catalogue (2008 Odyssey): lists front driveshaft components and intermediate shaft bearing where applicable, no tailshaft centre support bearing.
• Standard driveline practice: centre support bearings are used on two‑piece tailshafts in RWD/AWD vehicles, not typical FWD layouts.

Popular questions

Does a 2008 Honda Odyssey have a centre-bearing?

No. It’s a front‑wheel‑drive people mover with no two‑piece tailshaft, so there’s no tailshaft centre support bearing. Some models do use a right‑hand intermediate shaft with a carrier bearing, which is a different component.

What’s the bearing people talk about on the Odyssey’s front axle?

That’s the intermediate (jack) shaft carrier bearing on the right‑hand side. It supports the short shaft between the transaxle and the RH CV axle. If worn, it can cause a droning noise, vibration under load, or a faint rumble that tracks with road speed. Replacement involves removing the RH driveshaft and intermediate shaft to press the bearing off/on.

Chasing a vibration at highway speeds — could it be a centre-bearing?

Not on this model. Look first at wheel balance and tyres, then CV joints, the RH intermediate shaft bearing (if fitted), and engine/trans mounts. A technician can road test, check for play at the shafts, and spin the wheels to pinpoint the source before parts are replaced.