Parts for your 2009 Toyota Aurion-Centre bearing

2009 Toyota Aurion centre-bearing — what’s actually fitted

For the 2009 Toyota Aurion (GSV40R), a traditional tailshaft centre-bearing is not used. The Aurion is front‑wheel drive with a transverse V6 and a U660E transaxle, so there’s no rear propeller shaft that would require a centre support bearing. This layout is detailed in Toyota’s New Car Features for GSV40R and the Drivetrain sections of the Toyota Repair Manual. The Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue (EPC) for GSV40R also shows no propeller shaft group for Aurion models, which aligns with standard driveline practice that centre support bearings are fitted to two‑piece propeller shafts in rear‑wheel drive or AWD vehicles.

Why do some people still ask about a centre-bearing on an Aurion? It’s usually a naming mix‑up. On the right‑hand side of the Aurion’s front drive, there’s an intermediate (stub) shaft that runs from the transaxle to the RH CV axle. That intermediate shaft is carried by a bracket and a pressed‑in support bearing. Some catalogues call that item a “front drive shaft centre bearing,” but it’s not a tailshaft centre support, it’s an axle support bearing. Functionally, it prevents CV angles from getting excessive and helps control torque steer, but it doesn’t mean the car has a rear tailshaft centre-bearing.

If someone’s chasing a “centre-bearing” noise on a 2009 Aurion, it’s worth checking components that commonly cause mid‑car hums or vibrations:

• Right‑hand intermediate shaft support bearing (the axle carrier bearing)
• Front CV joints and boots (look for torn boots and grease fling)
• Front wheel bearings
• Engine and trans mounts, and even tyre condition/balance

Servicing tips for the RH intermediate shaft support bearing (often mistaken for a centre-bearing):

• Inspect at regular service intervals for play, roughness, or rumble under load. Any free play in the bearing or bracket is a fail.
• Replacement usually requires removing the RH shaft assembly, the bearing is a press‑fit sealed type. Many workshops replace the intermediate shaft as an assembly if the bearing is noisy.
• Use quality parts and torque the bracket fasteners to spec to avoid vibration. A post‑repair road test at highway speeds helps confirm NVH is sorted.

Technical sources referenced: Toyota Aurion (GSV40R) New Car Features, Drivetrain – front‑wheel‑drive transaxle layout (no propeller shaft), Toyota Aurion (GSV40R) Repair Manual, Drivetrain – Front Drive Shaft – Intermediate Shaft (support bearing and bracket), Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue (GSV40) – no Propeller Shaft listing, general driveline texts noting centre support bearings are for two‑piece propeller shafts in RWD/AWD applications.

Does a 2009 Toyota Aurion have a centre-bearing?

No. There’s no tailshaft centre-bearing because the Aurion is FWD and doesn’t have a propeller shaft. What it does have is a right‑hand intermediate drive shaft with a support bearing, which some sellers loosely call a “centre bearing”.

I can hear a humming from the middle of the car — could it be the centre-bearing on my Aurion?

On an Aurion, that hum is more likely the RH intermediate shaft support bearing, a front wheel bearing, or a CV joint. A mechanic can check for bearing play on the intermediate shaft bracket and spin the wheels to isolate the noise before replacing parts.

What part replaces the centre-bearing on a 2009 Aurion, and how is it serviced?

There’s no tailshaft centre-bearing to replace. If the RH intermediate shaft support bearing is noisy, the fix is either pressing in a new bearing on the intermediate shaft or fitting a complete intermediate shaft assembly. Always confirm by VIN and follow torque specs.