Parts for your 2012 Toyota Camry-Centre bearing

2012 Toyota Camry centre-bearing: is it actually a thing?

Short answer: a centre-bearing isn’t used on the 2012 Toyota Camry. Technical sources that outline the XV50 Camry’s layout — the Toyota Repair Manual for 2012 Camry (Drivetrain/Axle – Front Drive Shaft), the Toyota New Car Features (NCF) for the XV50 platform, and the Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue (EPC) — all show a front‑wheel‑drive transaxle with left and right front drive shafts and no propeller (tail) shaft, so there’s no need for a tailshaft centre support bearing. All 2012 Camry variants sold in Australia and New Zealand, including Hybrid, are FWD and were not offered with AWD for that model year, reinforcing the absence of a centre-bearing.

Why it’s not used comes down to driveline design. A centre-bearing is a support bearing fitted to a two‑piece propeller shaft on rear‑wheel‑drive or all‑wheel‑drive vehicles to control shaft alignment and vibration. The 2012 Camry runs a transverse engine with an integrated transaxle and short constant‑velocity (CV) drive shafts to the front wheels. With no long tailshaft running down the centre of the car, there’s simply nothing for a centre-bearing to support.

What sometimes causes confusion is the right‑hand intermediate (stub) shaft on some FWD layouts. Many Toyotas, including the XV50 Camry, use a right‑side intermediate shaft to balance axle lengths, that shaft carries a support bearing bolted to the engine block/subframe. In parts catalogues and workshop chatter this can be called a “carrier” or “support” bearing, but it isn’t a tailshaft centre-bearing. If a 2012 Camry presents with a droning or rumbling that rises with road speed, technicians will often check this support bearing, along with other front‑end suspects.

• Likely checks when a “centre-bearing” noise is suspected on a 2012 Camry:
  • Right‑hand intermediate shaft support bearing condition and bracket fasteners (Toyota RM, Front Drive Shaft section)
  • Front wheel hub bearings
  • Outer/inner CV joints and boots
  • Engine and transaxle mounts
  • Exhaust mounts contacting the subframe under load
  • Tyre wear or cupping

If the intermediate shaft support bearing is noisy, workshops typically replace the shaft assembly or press in a quality bearing to spec, then re‑torque the bracket to the block. No wheel alignment is usually needed, and labour time is modest compared with tailshaft work on RWD/4WD platforms. Sticking with genuine or reputable aftermarket parts keeps NVH in check, as noted by Toyota’s service guidance in the RM and NCF documents.

Popular questions about a 2012‑Toyota‑Camry centre‑bearing

Does the 2012 Toyota Camry have a tailshaft centre-bearing?
No. According to the Toyota Repair Manual and New Car Features for the XV50, the 2012 Camry is front‑wheel drive with no propeller shaft, so there’s no tailshaft centre support bearing listed in the Toyota EPC for this model year.

What part is often mistaken for a centre-bearing on a 2012 Camry?
The right‑hand intermediate shaft support bearing can be mistaken for a centre-bearing. It supports the short stub shaft between the transaxle and the right CV shaft. When worn, it can cause a road‑speed‑related hum or vibration, but it’s a front‑axle component, not a tailshaft support.

How much might it cost to fix a “centre‑bearing” type noise on a 2012 Camry in AU/NZ?
Costs vary with diagnosis: a front wheel bearing might land around AUD/NZD $300–$650 fitted, while an intermediate shaft support bearing or shaft assembly could range roughly AUD/NZD $400–$1,000 depending on parts choice and labour. A proper inspection is recommended to pinpoint the exact source before spending on parts.