Parts for your 2011 Honda Odyssey-Centre bearing

2011 Honda Odyssey centre-bearing: is it actually a thing?

Short answer: a centre-bearing isn’t fitted to the 2011 Honda Odyssey, and it isn’t relevant to its driveline. The Odyssey is a front-wheel-drive people mover with a transverse V6 and a transaxle that drives the front wheels via two CV halfshafts. There’s no long, two-piece propeller shaft running to the rear, so there’s no need for a centre support bearing.

That call lines up with technical sources: the Honda Service Manual for the 2011 Odyssey (Driveline/Axle section) details only front driveshafts and CV joints, with no propeller shaft or centre support bearing. Likewise, Honda’s official parts catalogue for the 2011 Odyssey lists front halfshafts, joints, and an intermediate (right-hand) shaft assembly, but no centre-bearing component. Industry service databases also classify the 2011 Odyssey as FWD only, with no AWD or RWD variant in this generation that would require a centre-bearing.

Why it’s not used: a centre-bearing’s whole job is to support a long, multi-piece driveshaft in rear- or all-wheel-drive layouts. The Odyssey’s layout avoids that entirely. Instead, it uses equal-length front driveshaft geometry with a right-hand intermediate shaft to help reduce torque steer and vibration.

Worth noting: some owners and even parts listings confuse a “centre-bearing” with the Odyssey’s right-hand intermediate shaft support bearing. That intermediate shaft has a support bracket and bearing near the engine block. It’s not a prop-shaft centre-bearing, but if worn it can cause vibration or growling noises under load that people sometimes misattribute to a non-existent centre-bearing.

• Common causes of “centre-bearing-like” noises on a 2011 Odyssey:
  • Right-hand intermediate shaft support bearing wear
  • Outer/inner CV joint wear or torn boots
  • Front or rear wheel bearings starting to rumble
  • Engine and transmission mounts collapsing
  • Tyre cupping or poor wheel balance

Service tip: if there’s vibration on acceleration or a droning that rises with road speed, a technician should check the RH intermediate shaft bearing for play, inspect both CV shafts, spin the wheels to assess bearing noise, and confirm tyre condition and balance. If the intermediate shaft bearing is shot, many workshops replace the intermediate shaft assembly as a unit. When removing shafts, watch for transaxle fluid loss and renew axle seals if they weep after reassembly. Sticking with quality parts and correct press/fit procedures keeps the Odyssey smooth over long kilometres.

Technical references used:

• Honda Service Manual (2011 Odyssey), Driveline/Axle section – front driveshafts only, no propeller shaft or centre support bearing listed.
• Honda OEM parts catalogue for 2011 Odyssey – shows front halfshafts and right-hand intermediate shaft assembly, no centre support bearing part.
• Industry service databases for 2011 Odyssey – model configured as front-wheel drive only for this generation.

Popular questions

Does a 2011 Honda Odyssey have a centre-bearing?
No. The 2011 Odyssey is front-wheel drive and doesn’t use a two-piece propeller shaft, so there’s no centre support bearing fitted from factory. Any listing suggesting one is likely generic or mislabelled for this model.

What part might be confused with a centre-bearing on this Odyssey?
The right-hand intermediate shaft support bearing. It supports the short shaft between the transaxle and the right CV axle. If it wears, it can cause vibration or a growling noise that some people mistake for a failed “centre-bearing”.

What should be checked if there’s a vibration that sounds like a bad centre-bearing?
Start with the RH intermediate shaft bearing, both CV joints, wheel bearings, engine/trans mounts, and tyre balance/condition. A proper road test and on-hoist inspection usually pinpoints the culprit quickly.