Parts for your 2013 Mazda 3-Centre bearing

2013 Mazda 3 centre-bearing: not fitted and not needed

For the 2013 Mazda 3 (BL series), a centre-bearing isn’t used or relevant. This model is front‑wheel drive only in Australia and New Zealand, so there’s no long, two‑piece tailshaft running to a rear differential that would require a centre (centre support) bearing.

Technical sources back this up clearly. The Mazda 3 (BL) Workshop Manual’s Driveline/Axle sections cover front drive shafts, CV joints, and hubs, but there’s no propeller shaft or centre support bearing procedure listed for this model. The Mazda Electronic Parts Catalogue (BL chassis, 2010–2013) also has no “Propeller Shaft” group for the Mazda 3, instead it lists left and right front drive shafts and, for the right side, an intermediate (jack) shaft with a bracket and support bearing. Mazda Australia’s 2013 Mazda3 specification brochures list all variants as front‑wheel drive, with no AWD option, reinforcing that a centre-bearing simply isn’t part of the driveline.

What sometimes causes confusion is the right‑hand intermediate shaft support bearing used on the front axle. Some people call this a “centre bearing”, but it isn’t the same thing. A true centre-bearing supports the middle of a long rear prop shaft in RWD/AWD vehicles. The Mazda 3’s support bearing sits on the short intermediate shaft on the engine side, mounted to a bracket on the block to help balance shaft lengths and reduce torque steer. Different part, different job.

So if someone’s searching for a “2013 Mazda 3 centre-bearing”, what they likely need is the right‑hand intermediate shaft support bearing. Typical symptoms of that bearing wearing out include a droning or growling that changes with road speed (not engine revs), and sometimes noticeable play at the bracket when the shaft is unloaded. Replacement involves removing the right‑hand intermediate shaft assembly and pressing the bearing off/on, it’s not a regular service item, but it can wear with high kilometres, heat, or water ingress. While there’s no maintenance schedule for it, quick checks during front‑end work—spinning the shaft by hand and feeling for roughness—are worthwhile. If noise persists after tyre and wheel bearing checks, having a technician inspect the intermediate shaft bearing is a smart move.

• Centre-bearing on this car: not used (no tailshaft, FWD only).
• Commonly confused part: right‑hand intermediate shaft support bearing on the front axle.

Popular questions about the 2013 Mazda 3 centre-bearing

Does a 2013 Mazda 3 have a centre-bearing?
No. The 2013 Mazda 3 in Australia and New Zealand is front‑wheel drive and doesn’t use a tailshaft or centre support bearing. If you’ve heard about a “centre-bearing” on this car, it’s usually someone referring to the right‑hand intermediate shaft support bearing on the front axle.

What’s the difference between a centre-bearing and the Mazda 3’s intermediate shaft bearing?
A centre-bearing supports the middle of a long prop shaft in RWD/AWD vehicles. The Mazda 3’s intermediate shaft bearing supports a short right‑hand driveshaft section mounted to the engine block, helping reduce torque steer. Different locations, different components, and not interchangeable terms.

How can someone tell if the intermediate shaft bearing is failing?
Listen for a speed‑related droning or growling from the right‑hand side that doesn’t change with engine revs. With the car safely raised, a technician can check for roughness when spinning the shaft by hand and for play at the bracket. If confirmed, the fix is bearing replacement on the intermediate shaft.