Parts for your 2017 Honda Accord-Centre bearing

Centre Bearing on the 2017 Honda Accord: What You Need to Know

When it comes to the 2017 Honda Accord, the question often arises whether a centre bearing is part of the drivetrain or not. After referencing technical sources and maintenance manuals for this particular model, it turns out that a centre bearing is not used on the 2017 Honda Accord. This might come as a surprise for some, especially those familiar with certain vehicles that do rely on centre bearings, but there's a good reason why this part does not feature on the Accord.

The absence of a centre bearing is primarily due to the Accord's drivetrain layout. The 2017 Honda Accord comes with a front-wheel-drive setup, and it does not utilize a two-piece driveshaft. Centre bearings are commonly used in vehicles with longer or multi-piece driveshafts, especially rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive vehicles, where the driveshaft is split into two sections and supported in the middle for stability and vibration reduction. A centre bearing supports the shaft where it joins in the middle, preventing excessive movement and reducing wear on joints.

Since the 2017 Accord uses a compact, front-wheel-drive system, the driveshaft configuration involves half-shafts going directly from the transaxle to each front wheel. This setup eliminates the need for a long driveshaft and therefore removes the requirement for a centre bearing altogether. The style of this drivetrain helps keep the mechanical design simpler, lighter, and more efficient.

So why does a vehicle need a centre bearing at all? Centre bearings are typically fitted when driveshafts are split into two, commonly found in larger or older vehicles with rear-wheel-drive designs. If the driveshaft spans a long distance, a centre bearing supports the shaft at its midpoint to reduce vibrations, prevent shaft flexing, and prolong the life of the universal joints and the surrounding components. Essentially, it helps keep the driveshaft stable while the vehicle is in motion.

For vehicles that do have centre bearings, maintenance and replacement can be key to preventing drivetrain issues. The bearing itself is usually a rubber-lined support with a bearing in the centre to allow the shaft to rotate freely but with limited movement. Over time, wear and tear can cause the rubber to degrade and the bearing to seize or become noisy, which will usually manifest as vibrations, knocking noises, or clunking while driving. Faulty centre bearings can also lead to uneven wear on other parts like the universal joints and potentially cause driveshaft misalignment.

In those vehicles where centre bearings are used, it's important to check them regularly as part of routine servicing. Typical signs of a failing centre bearing include unusual noises under acceleration, noticeable vibration especially at certain speeds, or movement in the driveshaft that shouldn't be there. Replacement often involves supporting the driveshaft properly, removing the old bearing carrier, and installing a new bearing with the correct fitment to ensure smooth operation.

Given the 2017 Honda Accord's design, owners do not have to worry about these particular maintenance issues related to centre bearings. The simpler front-wheel-drive system reduces the number of moving parts in the drivetrain, which can lead to lower maintenance costs and fewer concerns over parts like this. Instead, regular servicing on the Accord typically focuses on the CV joints and half-shafts, which are more relevant to its drivetrain layout.

In short, if you are looking into centre bearing servicing or replacement for a 2017 Honda Accord, you can relax knowing that this model does not have one. Instead, the drivetrain relies on a more straightforward setup without that midpoint support, focusing on other components to keep the vehicle running smoothly. This simplification makes the Accord a reliable and user-friendly vehicle with fewer complex parts to maintain within the drivetrain.