Parts for your 2013 Toyota Camry-Centre bearing

2013 Toyota Camry centre-bearing — is it actually a thing?

Short answer: a traditional “centre-bearing” isn’t used on a 2013 Toyota Camry. Technical sources including the Toyota Repair Manual for the XV50 series (2012–2014), the Toyota New Car Features (NCF) manual for XV50, and the Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue (EPC) for ASV50/AVV50 list the Camry as a transverse-engine, front‑wheel‑drive vehicle with no two‑piece propeller shaft. Because there’s no long rear driveshaft to support, there’s no centre support bearing in this model.

Centre-bearings are a rear‑wheel‑drive or all‑wheel‑drive thing, where a long, two‑piece prop shaft needs a mid‑span support to control vibration and keep the driveline aligned. The 2013 Camry drives only the front wheels via a transaxle and a pair of CV axles, so that component simply isn’t part of the design. This applies to both the 2.5‑litre petrol and the Hybrid variants in AU/NZ, no AWD option was offered in this generation.

What can cause the confusion? On many front‑drive Toyotas, including XV50 Camry, the right‑hand side uses an intermediate (jack) shaft with a bracket and pressed‑in bearing to help equalise axle lengths and reduce torque steer. Toyota documentation and parts listings usually call this an “intermediate shaft support bearing” as part of the RH driveshaft assembly, not a centre-bearing. It’s mounted to the engine block/subframe and is serviced with the shaft or the bearing/bracket assembly, depending on parts availability and workshop practice.

If someone’s chasing a “centre-bearing” noise on a 2013 Camry, they’re more likely hearing one of the following:

• Right‑hand intermediate shaft support bearing wear
• Outer/inner CV joint wear on either front axle
• Front wheel bearing rumble
• Engine or transmission mount deterioration
• Tyre cupping or poor wheel balance

Good practice is to road‑test for speed‑related hums that change on cornering (often wheel bearings), clacks on take‑off or full‑lock turns (CV joints), or a steady vibration under load (could be the intermediate shaft support bearing or a mount). The Toyota Repair Manual (Drivetrain/Axle section) outlines inspection play limits for the intermediate shaft bearing and CVs, and the EPC shows the intermediate shaft/bearing as part of the RH drive shaft assembly on XV50 models.

• Does a 2013 Toyota Camry have a centre-bearing?

No. The XV50 Camry is front‑wheel drive with no two‑piece prop shaft, so there’s no centre support bearing in the driveline. This is consistent with the Toyota XV50 Repair Manual, NCF, and EPC used by dealers and aftermarket catalogues.

• What part are people actually referring to when they say “centre-bearing” on a Camry?

They usually mean the right‑hand intermediate shaft support bearing. It sits on a short jack shaft between the transaxle and the RH CV axle. If it wears, you might hear a steady rumble that rises with road speed or feel a vibration under load. It’s serviced by removing the RH shaft assembly and replacing the bearing/bracket or the complete shaft, as outlined in the factory manual.

• How do you tell if the noise is the intermediate shaft bearing or something else?

On a hoist, run the car at low speed while listening with a stethoscope near the RH bearing bracket, any growl there is a giveaway. On‑road, a wheel‑bearing hum often changes when the steering is gently loaded left/right, while a CV joint typically clicks on full lock. If in doubt, follow the Toyota FSM inspection steps for the RH support bearing and CVs before replacing parts.