Parts for your 2013 Nissan Pulsar-Centre bearing

2013 Nissan Pulsar centre-bearing — what’s fitted and what isn’t

Short answer: a centre-bearing isn’t used on the 2013 Nissan Pulsar (C12 hatch or B17 sedan) sold in Australia and New Zealand. The Pulsar is a front‑wheel‑drive design with a transaxle and two front CV driveshafts, so there’s no rear propeller shaft (tailshaft) and therefore no tailshaft centre-bearing to support it.

That call lines up with the technical literature. The Nissan Pulsar C12/B17 Factory Service Manual describes a FWD transaxle with front driveshafts only, with no propeller shaft or centre support bearing listed. The Nissan FAST electronic parts catalogue for these models likewise carries no propeller shaft or centre‑bearing entry for Pulsar, only left/right front driveshaft assemblies and related CV components. General driveline references also note that centre support bearings are used on two‑piece tailshafts in rear‑wheel‑drive or all‑wheel‑drive layouts, not on typical FWD platforms.

Why it isn’t used on Pulsar: the car’s drivetrain packages the gearbox and differential together at the front (transaxle). Power goes out through two half‑shafts directly to the front wheels, eliminating the need for a long tailshaft down the centre of the car. No multi‑piece tailshaft means no centre-bearing. That’s one of the space and efficiency wins of FWD cars.

Worth noting for owners chasing “centre‑bearing” noises: some FWD vehicles can have a right‑hand intermediate shaft with a small support (carrier) bearing on the engine block. On many Pulsar variants, this may not be present at all, where fitted, it’s a driveshaft support, not a tailshaft centre-bearing. Most Pulsar driveline rumbles or vibrations are more commonly traced to worn CV joints, a failing front wheel bearing, an engine/trans mount starting to sag, bent wheels, or out‑of‑round tyres.

If someone’s been told their 2013 Pulsar needs a “centre-bearing”, it’s worth double‑checking the diagnosis. Ask the workshop to clarify whether they actually mean a front wheel bearing, a CV shaft, or an intermediate shaft support bearing (if fitted), and to road‑test for vibration under load, on overrun, and while turning. A quick visual check of CV boots, free play at the wheel hub, and mount condition typically points the way.

• Technical sources referenced: Nissan Pulsar C12/B17 Factory Service Manual (driveline/axle sections), Nissan FAST EPC for C12/B17, standard driveline design texts describing centre support bearings on two‑piece tailshafts in RWD/AWD layouts.

FAQs

Does a 2013 Nissan Pulsar have a centre-bearing?
No. Being front‑wheel drive, the 2013 Pulsar has no tailshaft and therefore no tailshaft centre-bearing. It drives the front wheels via two CV shafts from the transaxle.

What’s making a “centre‑bearing” noise on a Pulsar if it doesn’t have one?
Owners describing a centre‑line rumble or vibration usually find the culprit is a front wheel bearing, a worn CV joint, or an engine/trans mount. On variants with an intermediate right‑hand shaft, its small support bearing can also wear, but it’s not a tailshaft centre-bearing.

How should a workshop diagnose Pulsar driveline vibration?
A good approach is to road‑test at various speeds and throttle positions, check wheel and tyre balance/condition, inspect CV boots and joints for play, spin-check front hubs for roughness, and confirm engine/trans mounts aren’t collapsing. Only then order parts.