Parts for your 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer-Centre bearing

2009 Mitsubishi Lancer centre-bearing: what’s actually fitted

For most 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer models sold in Australia and New Zealand (CJ-series front-wheel drive sedans and hatches), a centre-bearing isn’t used. That’s because these FWD cars don’t run a propeller shaft down the length of the vehicle. Instead, they use short left and right drive shafts with CV joints coming straight out of a transaxle, so there’s nothing in the middle that needs a centre support bearing.

Technical sources back this up. The Mitsubishi CJ Lancer workshop manual lists no propeller shaft or centre support bearing for the FWD variants, while the driveline sections for the AWD models (Ralliart and Evolution X/CZ4A) do detail a two‑piece propeller shaft with a centre support/hanger bearing. Likewise, Mitsubishi’s ASA parts catalogue only shows a propeller shaft centre bearing assembly for the AWD Ralliart and Evo, not for the regular FWD CJ Lancer trims.

Why it’s not used on the regular 2009 Lancer: a centre-bearing’s job is to support a long, two‑piece propeller shaft in rear- or all‑wheel drive layouts. A FWD Lancer simply doesn’t have that layout. Some FWD cars do have an intermediate right-hand drive shaft with a small support bearing on the engine block, but that’s not a prop-shaft centre-bearing and it serves a different purpose.

If an owner of a FWD 2009 Lancer is chasing “centre-bearing” style noises (droning, vibration on throttle), it’s worth looking at components that commonly mimic those symptoms:

• Outer or inner CV joints and split CV boots
• Front wheel bearings
• Engine and transmission mounts
• Exhaust mounts or a contacting heat shield
• Tyre cupping or out-of-balance wheels

Note for AWD models: the 2009 Lancer Ralliart and Evolution X are different. They run an AWD driveline with a two‑piece prop shaft and a centre support bearing. On those cars, the centre-bearing’s rubber isolator and bearing can age, causing vibration under load and a thump on take-off. Servicing typically involves inspecting the hanger bracket and rubber, checking driveline angles, and replacing the bearing or complete shaft assembly if there’s play or roughness. Torque specs and alignment procedures should follow the Mitsubishi workshop manual for the exact variant.

Popular questions

Does a 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer have a centre-bearing?
For the mainstream FWD 2009 CJ Lancer, no. There’s no propeller shaft, so there’s no centre-bearing to service or replace. Only the AWD Ralliart and Evolution X variants use a two-piece prop shaft with a centre support bearing.

Which 2009 Lancer models actually use a centre-bearing?
The AWD Ralliart and Evolution X (CZ4A) models. Workshop manual driveline chapters and the Mitsubishi parts catalogue list a centre support/hanger bearing for these AWD variants, not for the regular FWD trims.

What sounds like a bad centre-bearing on a FWD Lancer?
On a FWD CJ Lancer, vibration or droning is more likely from CV joints, wheel bearings, engine/gearbox mounts, or even a dodgy exhaust hanger. Tyre wear and wheel balance can also cause similar symptoms, so a quick inspection of those basics is a smart first step.