Parts for your 2008 Toyota Blade-Centre bearing

2008 Toyota Blade centre-bearing: what’s actually fitted

For the 2008 Toyota Blade (E150 series), a tailshaft centre-bearing is not fitted or required. Technical references that cover the Blade — including the Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue (EPC) for model codes AZE156H and GRE156H, the Auris/Blade E150 Repair Manual driveline sections, and Toyota’s New Car Features for the transaxle — all show the vehicle as front‑engine, front‑wheel drive (FF) with no propeller shaft. Because there’s no two‑piece tailshaft, there’s no centre-bearing to support it.

Why it isn’t used comes down to the layout. The Blade runs a transverse engine with a transaxle that drives the front wheels via left and right driveshafts (CV shafts). That design eliminates the long tailshaft you see in rear‑wheel drive and all‑wheel drive setups, the very part that needs a centre-bearing. On many Blade variants, there is a right‑hand intermediate driveshaft with a support (carrier) bearing bolted to the block. Some parts sites loosely call that a “centre bearing”, but in Aussie and Kiwi workshop speak a centre-bearing usually means a tailshaft support bearing — different job, different place.

So, if someone’s hunting a “centre-bearing” for a 2008 Toyota Blade, what they probably need is one of the following:

• The right‑hand intermediate driveshaft support bearing and bracket, or
• A complete CV shaft assembly (if joint wear, boots, or splines are the issue).

Typical symptoms that lead people down the centre‑bearing rabbit hole — humming that rises with road speed, a shudder on take‑off, or a drone under light throttle — are more commonly caused on a Blade by a worn CV joint, the RH intermediate shaft support bearing, or even a tired engine/gearbox mount.

Helpful sources technicians use to verify this on the Blade:

• Toyota EPC for E150 Blade (AZE156H/GRE156H): no propeller shaft section, centre support bearing not listed.
• Toyota Auris/Blade (E150) Repair Manual: Drivetrain/Axle covers front drive shafts and the RH intermediate shaft support bearing only.
• Toyota New Car Features: identifies the FF layout and the U‑series transaxles used, with front drive only.

Bottom line: there’s no tailshaft centre-bearing on a 2008 Toyota Blade. If there’s noise or vibration, have a mechanic in NZ or Australia check the CV shafts (boots, play, grease leakage), the RH intermediate support bearing, wheel bearings, and mounts. That’ll save time and get you to the right fix.

FAQs

Does a 2008 Toyota Blade have a centre-bearing?
No. The Blade is front‑wheel drive and doesn’t use a two‑piece tailshaft, so there’s no tailshaft centre-bearing. Any “centre” style bearing you might hear about on this car is the right‑hand intermediate driveshaft support bearing, which is a different part.

What part do I need if I’m hearing a humming or vibration and thought it was the centre-bearing?
On a Blade, that’s more likely the RH intermediate shaft support bearing, a wheel bearing, or a CV joint. A quick check for play at the RH support bracket and inspecting CV boots for splits/grease is a good start before ordering parts.

Can a Blade be retrofitted with a centre-bearing or tailshaft components?
Not practically. The chassis and driveline are designed for FF. There’s no factory AWD/tailshaft setup for the 2008 Blade, and retrofits would be custom, complex, and not supported by Toyota service information or parts catalogues.