Parts for your 2009 Honda Odyssey-Centre bearing

2009 Honda Odyssey centre-bearing: what’s actually on the vehicle

Plenty of owners ask about a “centre-bearing” on the 2009 Honda Odyssey. Referencing Honda’s own technical material, this model doesn’t run a propeller shaft or a prop-shaft centre support bearing because it’s a front‑wheel‑drive people mover. The Honda Odyssey 2005–2010 Service Manual (Driveline/Axle section) details a transverse V6 with a transaxle and short front half‑shafts, not a rear driveline. Honda’s Electronic Parts Catalogue for 2009 likewise lists an “intermediate (right) driveshaft” and its support bearing, but no prop-shaft centre support bearing. Industry driveline texts also note that centre support bearings are used on two‑piece prop shafts in rear‑ or all‑wheel‑drive layouts, which the 2009 Odyssey is not.

Why it’s not used on this Odyssey is straightforward engineering: with the engine and transaxle up front driving the front wheels, there’s no long prop shaft running to a rear differential, so there’s nothing in the middle of the car that needs a centre support bearing. What the Odyssey does have is a right‑hand intermediate shaft with a carrier/support bearing bolted to the engine block. Some folks casually call this a “centre bearing”, but it’s a different job on a different shaft.

For owners being quoted a “centre-bearing” replacement on a 2009 Odyssey, the workshop is almost certainly talking about that right‑hand intermediate shaft bearing. It’s there to support the longer right‑hand driveshaft, keeping CV joint angles balanced and minimising torque steer. When it wears, typical signs include:

• A steady humming or growl that rises with road speed, often more noticeable on light throttle.
• Vibration through the floor or steering under load.
• Visible play at the intermediate shaft or evidence of grease seepage.

Good servicing practice on this vehicle is to check the intermediate shaft support bearing during driveline inspections, especially if there are noise or vibration complaints. A proper diagnosis also rules out front wheel bearings and CV joints first. Replacement involves removing the right driveshaft assembly, unbolting the support bracket, and pressing the bearing off/on the intermediate shaft. It’s wise to replace any seals disturbed, torque the bracket fasteners to spec, and recheck CV boots while it’s apart. There’s no scheduled replacement interval, it’s done on condition. Quality genuine or reputable aftermarket bearings both work well, and an alignment isn’t normally required because suspension geometry isn’t changed.

Bottom line: there’s no prop-shaft centre support bearing on a 2009 Honda Odyssey. The only “centre‑ish” bearing people talk about is the intermediate shaft support bearing on the right front driveshaft, and that’s the one a tech will service if there’s noise or vibration.

Popular questions about a 2009 Honda Odyssey centre-bearing

Does a 2009 Honda Odyssey actually have a centre-bearing?
Not a prop-shaft centre support bearing, no. Being front‑wheel drive, it doesn’t have a rear propeller shaft to support. It does have a right‑hand intermediate driveshaft with a carrier/support bearing mounted to the engine block, which some people loosely call a “centre bearing”.

What’s the difference between a centre-bearing and the Odyssey’s intermediate shaft bearing?
A centre-bearing typically supports a long, two‑piece prop shaft on rear‑ or all‑wheel‑drive vehicles. The Odyssey’s intermediate shaft bearing supports the right front driveshaft in a front‑wheel‑drive layout. Different shaft, different location, similar idea of support, but they’re not interchangeable terms for this model.

What symptoms point to a failing intermediate shaft bearing on a 2009 Odyssey?
Listen for a speed‑related hum or growl that changes under light throttle, plus a slight vibration through the body under load. With the vehicle safely raised, a tech may find radial play at the intermediate shaft or see aged rubber and grease seepage at the bearing area. Always rule out front hub bearings and CV joints first.