Parts for your 2010 Toyota Blade-Centre bearing

2010 Toyota Blade centre-bearing: what’s actually fitted

Based on Toyota technical literature, a conventional propeller‑shaft centre bearing is not used on the 2010 Toyota Blade. The Blade (model codes AZE154H for the 2.4‑litre and GRE156H for the 3.5‑litre “Blade Master”) is built on the E150 platform with a transverse engine and front‑wheel drive layout. Toyota’s New Car Features (E150 series), the Toyota Repair Manual drivetrain section, and the Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue (EPC) for these model codes list a front transaxle (K112 CVT for 2AZ‑FE and U660E 6‑speed auto for 2GR‑FE) and do not list any propeller shaft or centre support bearing assemblies for this vehicle.

Why no centre bearing? A centre bearing supports the middle of a two‑piece propeller shaft, which is a feature of rear‑wheel drive or some all‑wheel drive vehicles with a longitudinal driveline. The 2010 Blade doesn’t have a prop shaft at all, drive goes straight from the transaxle to the front wheels via left and right half‑shafts. There’s nothing down the centre of the car that needs a carrier or centre support.

One point that can cause confusion: many front‑drive Toyotas, including the Blade, use a right‑hand intermediate (stub) shaft to help equalise driveshaft lengths and reduce torque steer. That intermediate shaft runs across the back of the engine and is supported by a bracket with a pressed‑in bearing. Some workshops casually call this a “carrier” or “centre” bearing, but in Toyota documentation it’s the front drive shaft intermediate/support bearing, not a prop‑shaft centre bearing.

• Driveline architecture per Toyota NCF (E150): transverse FWD, no prop shaft.
• Transaxles per Toyota Repair Manual/EPC: K112 (CVT, 2AZ‑FE) or U660E (6AT, 2GR‑FE), both FWD.
• EPC for AZE154H/GRE156H: no propeller shaft or centre support bearing group present.

If someone’s chasing a “centre‑bearing” noise or vibration on a Blade, it’s worth shifting the focus to typical FWD culprits: the right‑hand intermediate shaft support bearing, CV joints, driveshafts, engine/trans mounts, and tyre/wheel balance. The intermediate shaft bearing can be checked for radial play and roughness with the vehicle safely raised, any grumble, heat or looseness under load means it’s due for replacement, which involves removing the shaft from the transaxle and pressing in a new bearing to the bracket.

Popular questions about a 2010 Toyota Blade centre‑bearing

Does a 2010 Toyota Blade have a centre bearing?
It doesn’t have a traditional prop‑shaft centre bearing because the Blade is front‑wheel drive and has no propeller shaft. Toyota’s EPC and service manuals for AZE154H/GRE156H list no centre support bearing assembly.

What’s the bearing on the right‑hand side of the engine—Is that the centre bearing?
That’s the intermediate driveshaft support bearing. It holds the stub shaft that equalises left/right driveshaft lengths. It’s different to a prop‑shaft centre bearing but sometimes gets called one. If it’s noisy or has play, it can cause vibration on acceleration.

How do technicians check a suspected “centre‑bearing” issue on a Blade?
They’ll road‑test for growls or vibrations that change with load, then inspect the RH intermediate shaft support bearing for roughness or movement. They’ll also check CV joints, driveshaft straightness, engine/trans mounts, and wheel/tyre balance before calling the bearing.