Parts for your 2012 Toyota Vitz|yaris-Centre bearing

2012 Toyota Vitz/Yaris centre bearing — is it actually used?

Short answer: no, a centre bearing isn’t a thing on a 2012 Toyota Vitz/Yaris (NCP130/NSP130 series) in Australian and New Zealand spec. Technical references like the Toyota Repair Manual for the NCP130 platform (Drivetrain/Axle – Front Drive Shaft), the Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue (EPC) for NCP130/131, and general guides such as the Haynes Yaris 2011–2017 manual all show a front‑wheel‑drive transaxle with two front drive shafts and no propeller shaft. Because there’s no two‑piece prop shaft, there’s no prop‑shaft carrier (centre) bearing to service or replace.

What can cause confusion is the separate right‑hand (RH) front driveshaft support bearing used on some FWD cars. Toyota lists a “front drive shaft RH” with a bracket and support bearing on certain engines/markets, but that’s an intermediate shaft support bearing, not a prop‑shaft centre bearing. Different job, different location, different part.

• Why it doesn’t use one: the Vitz/Yaris runs a transverse engine and transaxle, sending drive straight to the front wheels via short half‑shafts, so no long prop shaft down the car that would need a centre support.
• NVH and packaging: the compact FWD layout keeps shafts short and rigid, controlling vibration without a carrier bearing.
• Service info backs it: Toyota’s NCP130 documentation contains front drive shaft procedures but no “Propeller Shaft” or “Carrier Bearing” sections for these models, and the EPC doesn’t list a centre bearing for this vehicle line.

Owners chasing a “centre bearing” noise on a 2012 Vitz/Yaris are usually dealing with something else: the RH intermediate shaft bearing (if fitted), a worn CV joint, a tyre/tyre‑balance issue, or engine/gearbox mount wear. If the vehicle does have the RH support bearing and there’s a droning that changes with road speed, technicians typically check for play at the bearing bracket, torn bearing seals, or grease leakage. Replacement involves removing the RH shaft assembly, unbolting the bracket from the block, and pressing the bearing off/on to spec—items covered under the Front Drive Shaft section of the Toyota repair info for the NCP130.

For rare JDM 4WD Vitz variants, the prop shaft is typically a single piece given the short wheelbase, so a centre bearing still isn’t usually present. The sure-fire way is to check the VIN in the Toyota EPC for a “Propeller Shaft” group, if it’s not listed, there’s no centre bearing to buy or service.

• Does a 2012 Toyota Vitz/Yaris have a centre bearing?
  No. It’s a front‑wheel‑drive layout with no propeller shaft, so there’s no centre (carrier) bearing. Any similar-sounding part people refer to is likely the RH front driveshaft support bearing on certain engines/markets.
• What’s the difference between a centre bearing and the Yaris intermediate shaft bearing?
  A centre bearing supports a long, two‑piece prop shaft on RWD/4WD vehicles. The Yaris intermediate shaft bearing supports the RH front driveshaft on some FWD models, it’s mounted to the engine block and has nothing to do with a rear prop shaft.
• What should owners check if they suspect “centre bearing” noise on a 2012 Yaris?
  Have a technician inspect front CV joints, the RH intermediate shaft support bearing (if fitted), wheel bearings, and engine/trans mounts. Tyre condition and balance are common culprits too.