Parts for your 2013 Toyota Bb-Centre bearing

2013 Toyota bB centre-bearing — what’s actually fitted

For the 2013 Toyota bB (QNC20/QNC21 series), a centre-bearing is not used or required. Technical references that back this up include the Toyota Repair Manual (Drivetrain/Axle sections) and the Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue (EPC) for QNC20/QNC21, which list a transverse front-wheel-drive transaxle with left and right CV axles, and no propeller shaft assembly. In those EPC listings, there is no “Propeller Shaft” group and therefore no “Centre Support Bearing” or “Centre-Bearing” part for these models.

Why isn’t a centre-bearing used here? Centre-bearings support a long, two-piece propeller shaft (tailshaft) in rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive layouts — think utes, vans, and some SUVs. The 2013 bB runs a compact, transverse FWD drivetrain, so the torque goes straight from the transaxle to the front hubs via short CV axles. There’s no long prop shaft running down the car, so there’s nothing for a centre-bearing to support. This design choice is shown in Toyota’s New Car Features (NCF) material for the QNC2# series and reflected in the absence of any tailshaft or carrier bearing in the EPC for 2013MY bB.

One point that can cause confusion: some FWD cars use a right-hand intermediate driveshaft with a support bearing bolted to the engine block or transmission case. That support is sometimes casually called a “centre bearing”, but it’s a different part and function to a prop shaft centre-bearing. On the bB, technicians confirm fitment by VIN in the Toyota EPC under the “Front Drive Shaft” group, not under “Propeller Shaft”.

If a 2013 bB owner is chasing a vibration or droning noise and someone’s mentioned a “centre-bearing”, it’s worth checking more likely FWD culprits instead:

• Outer or inner CV joints and split CV boots
• Engine and transmission mounts
• Wheel/tyre balance, tyre flat-spotting, or bent rims
• Front wheel bearings
• The RH driveshaft support bearing (if fitted), noted in the EPC under front drive shafts

Servicing-wise, there’s no centre-bearing to maintain on a 2013 Toyota bB. Good practice is to keep an eye on CV boots for grease leaks, replace worn mounts, ensure tyres are balanced and rotated on schedule, and use quality hub bearings when needed. If a workshop quotes for a “centre-bearing” on a bB, ask for the Toyota part number and the EPC diagram they’re referencing — for QNC20/QNC21 FWD bB, there isn’t a prop shaft centre-bearing listed.

Popular questions

Does a 2013 Toyota bB have a centre-bearing?
No. The 2013 bB is a front-wheel-drive model without a propeller shaft, so there’s no centre-bearing in the drivetrain. Toyota’s Repair Manual and EPC for QNC20/QNC21 show only a transaxle and front CV axles.

I’m getting vibration at 60–80 km/h — could it be the centre-bearing on my bB?
Unlikely, because there isn’t one fitted. On a bB, vibrations in that range are more often wheel/tyre balance, a worn CV joint, a failing front hub bearing, or soft engine/trans mounts. A technician can road test, then check runout, balance and driveline play to pinpoint it.

Is there a carrier bearing on the bB’s driveshafts, and can it be replaced by itself?
Some FWD setups use a right-hand intermediate shaft with a support (carrier) bearing. If your bB has that arrangement, its support bearing is separate from a prop-shaft centre-bearing and can usually be replaced without changing the entire axle, provided the bearing and bracket are available for your VIN. Your parts supplier can confirm via the Toyota EPC under the “Front Drive Shaft” group.