Parts for your 2008 Nissan Primera-Centre bearing

2008 Nissan Primera centre-bearing: what’s fitted and what isn’t

Verdict: a centre-bearing is not used on the 2008 Nissan Primera. Technical references that back this up include the Nissan Primera P12 Electronic Service Manual (ESM, 2002–2007 model series), which covers Front Axle/Drive Shaft and Rear Axle sections with no propeller shaft or centre support bearing for FWD models, the Nissan Electronic Parts Catalogue (FAST/EPC) for P12, which lists no centre support bearing assembly for Primera drivetrains, and workshop data aggregators (e.g., Autodata) that specify a transverse engine, front‑wheel‑drive layout with half‑shafts and CV joints only. In short, there’s no two‑piece prop shaft in a FWD Primera, so there’s nothing that needs a centre support bearing.

Why it isn’t used: the 2008-registered Primera is from the P12 series, built as a front‑wheel‑drive platform. Power goes from the transaxle straight to left and right drive shafts via CV joints. These are short, direct shafts, so a centre-bearing (the rubber‑mounted support mid‑span on a long, two‑piece propeller shaft) simply isn’t part of the design. Some FWD Nissans use a right‑hand intermediate shaft with a small support bearing bolted to the engine block or transmission case. That is a carrier/support bearing for the intermediate shaft, not a centre-bearing for a prop shaft, and parts catalogues list it separately.

Owners sometimes ask for a “centre-bearing” when chasing a rumble or vibration. On a Primera, those symptoms usually come from:

• Front wheel bearings (droning that changes with road speed and when loading the car left/right)
• CV joints or shafts (clicking on full lock, or vibration under acceleration)
• Tyre cupping or uneven wear (droning that shifts with tyre rotation)
• Engine/gearbox mounts (thumps or shudder on take‑off)
• The intermediate shaft support bearing (if fitted), which can hum but is mounted near the engine, not mid‑car

For servicing a Primera that’s reported to have a “centre-bearing” issue, a workshop should instead:

1. Road test to characterise the noise (speed‑related, load‑related, on/off throttle).
2. Check front wheel bearings for play and roughness, spin wheels by hand and listen with a stethoscope.
3. Inspect CV boots and joints, look for split boots, thrown grease and axial play.
4. Examine the right‑hand intermediate shaft and its support bearing (where applicable) for free play or rumble.
5. Confirm tyre condition, pressures and alignment, then rotate to see if the noise moves.

Unless the car is a rare custom AWD conversion (not listed in the P12 ESM or FAST/EPC for the typical NZ/AU‑market fleet), a centre-bearing isn’t a service item on a 2008 Nissan Primera. If a parts search turns up “centre-bearing” for this model, it’s almost always a catalogue cross‑reference artefact or a mislabelled intermediate shaft bearing.

Popular questions

Does a 2008 Nissan Primera have a centre-bearing?
No. The P12 Primera runs a front‑wheel‑drive transaxle with short drive shafts and CV joints, so there’s no long propeller shaft and no centre support bearing. Any rumble people call a “centre-bearing” issue is usually a wheel bearing, CV joint or the intermediate shaft’s support bearing (if fitted) near the engine.

What’s the part people confuse with a centre-bearing on a Primera?
That’d be the right‑hand intermediate shaft support bearing. It sits close to the engine or gearbox to steady the longer shaft. It’s not mid‑car and not part of a two‑piece tailshaft. If this bearing fails, it can hum or vibrate under load, often mistaken for a rear driveline noise.

How should a shop diagnose a “centre-bearing” noise on a Primera?
Start with a road test, then check front wheel bearings, CV joints, and the intermediate shaft support bearing. Inspect tyres for cupping and verify engine/gearbox mounts. These checks cover the common causes on a FWD Primera where a centre-bearing isn’t present.