Parts for your 2012 Honda Odyssey-Centre bearing

2012 Honda Odyssey centre-bearing — is it used?

Short answer: a centre-bearing isn’t used on the 2012 Honda Odyssey. Technical references show the Odyssey is a front‑wheel‑drive people mover with no rear propeller shaft, so there’s no need for a driveshaft centre support bearing.

Relevant sources: Honda Odyssey Service Manual (2011–2017) Driveline/Axle section describes a FWD transaxle with two front driveshafts and, on the right‑hand side, an intermediate (jack) shaft supported by a bracket and sealed bearing. The Honda parts catalogues for 2012 Odyssey models (both AU/NZ RB series and North American RL5) list front CV axles and an intermediate shaft assembly, but there’s no “propeller shaft” group and no centre support bearing. That’s because the Odyssey doesn’t have a long, two‑piece driveshaft like a rear‑wheel‑drive or AWD ute/SUV would.

Why no centre-bearing on this model? Centre-bearings are there to support a long, split propeller shaft running down the middle of the vehicle. The 2012 Odyssey sends drive to the front wheels via short CV half‑shafts from the transaxle. With no rear diff and no prop shaft, there’s nothing for a centre-bearing to support. This layout cuts weight, improves packaging, and helps NVH and fuel use — all wins for a family van.

Worth noting: some shops casually say “centre bearing” when they mean the right‑hand intermediate shaft bearing on a FWD Honda. That’s a different part and job entirely.

• Centre-bearing (not fitted here): supports a two‑piece rear propeller shaft on RWD/AWD vehicles.
• Intermediate shaft bearing (fitted): supports the short right‑hand jack shaft between the transaxle and RH CV axle on the Odyssey.

If you’re chasing a mid‑car vibration or droning noise on a 2012 Odyssey, look first at tyres and wheel balance, front wheel bearings, inner/outer CV joints, engine/trans mounts, and the RH intermediate shaft bearing. The intermediate bearing is sealed and not serviceable, if it’s noisy or has play, replacement is the fix. A technician will remove the RH axle and jack shaft, unbolt the bracket, and either replace the bearing/shaft assembly or press on a new bearing per the Honda procedure. Use new circlips and bolts where specified and torque to the manual. If doing it at home, support the vehicle safely and follow the factory service steps.

Parts teams often field this question, the takeaway is simple — there’s no centre-bearing on a 2012 Odyssey because there’s no prop shaft to support.

Popular questions

Does a 2012 Honda Odyssey have a centre-bearing?
No. The Odyssey is front‑wheel drive and doesn’t use a rear propeller shaft, so there’s no centre support bearing. It does have a right‑hand intermediate shaft with its own support bearing, which some people mix up with a centre-bearing.

What causes vibration at 60–80 km/h on a 2012 Odyssey?
Common culprits include tyre imbalance or cupping, worn front wheel bearings, inner CV joint wear, engine/trans mounts, and the RH intermediate shaft bearing. A road test and a quick check for play/noise at the hub and intermediate shaft bracket will usually pinpoint it.

Can the intermediate shaft bearing be serviced separately?
It’s a sealed bearing, the usual approach is to replace the bearing or the complete intermediate shaft assembly following the Honda service manual. Press work, correct orientation, and the right torque on the bracket fasteners are important, so many owners leave this to a workshop.