Parts for your 2011 Honda Stream-Centre bearing

2011 Honda Stream centre-bearing: is it a thing?

Short answer: a centre-bearing isn’t used on the 2011 Honda Stream. Technical references show the RN6–RN9 Stream runs a transverse engine with front‑wheel drive and no tailshaft. In Honda’s service manual (Driveshaft/Axle section) and the Honda Electronic Parts Catalogue for the 2006–2014 Stream, there’s no propeller shaft or centre support listed for this model. Market specs for JDM and NZ new units match this layout, so a centre-bearing simply doesn’t feature on this vehicle.

Why isn’t one fitted? A centre-bearing’s job is to support a long, usually two‑piece tailshaft in rear‑wheel drive or all‑wheel drive layouts. The Stream doesn’t have that hardware. Instead, torque goes through a transaxle to two short front driveshafts with constant‑velocity (CV) joints. Some variants use a right‑hand intermediate shaft with its own support bearing bolted to the block. That bearing is not a “centre-bearing” in the tailshaft sense, but it’s the bit people sometimes mean when they ask about a centre-bearing on a Stream.

Chasing a rumble or vibration and thinking centre-bearing? On this model, the likely culprits are elsewhere. Common checks that make sense for a 2011 Stream include:

• Inner CV joints (shudder on take‑off or under load)
• Right‑hand intermediate shaft support bearing (whirring that rises with road speed)
• Front wheel bearings (droning that changes when cornering)
• Engine and transmission mounts (thumps or excessive movement under acceleration)
• Tyre balance or out‑of‑round tyres (speed‑related vibration)

If the intermediate shaft support bearing is noisy, replacement is the fix, it’s pressed onto the shaft and secured to the block with a bracket. A workshop will typically confirm play with the vehicle raised, then renew the bearing and circlip, check driveshaft seals, and refill/verify transaxle fluid level. Owners importing parts should order by VIN to ensure the correct RN6–RN9 components, as the bearing and bracket can vary by engine code.

Technical sources referenced: Honda Stream (RN6–RN9) Service Manual – Driveshaft/Axle, Honda Electronic Parts Catalogue (EPC) for 2006–2014 Stream, market specifications for JDM/NZ models showing FWD configuration and no propeller shaft listing.

Popular questions about the 2011 Honda Stream “centre-bearing”

Does a 2011 Honda Stream have a centre-bearing?
No. The Stream is front‑wheel drive with no tailshaft, so there’s no centre support bearing. People sometimes confuse the right‑hand driveshaft’s intermediate support bearing with a tailshaft centre-bearing, but they’re different parts doing different jobs.

What causes vibration on take‑off if it’s not a centre-bearing?
On these, worn inner CV joints are a top suspect, followed by the intermediate shaft support bearing, engine/trans mounts, and wheel/tyre issues. A technician will road‑test, then check for play in the shafts and bearings on a hoist to pinpoint the fault.

How do workshops check the intermediate shaft support bearing on a Stream?
With the vehicle safely raised, they’ll rotate and lever the right‑hand shaft near the bearing bracket, feeling for roughness or movement. Any growl, notchiness, or visible play under load means it’s time to replace the bearing and re‑seat the shaft, then road‑test for noise.