Parts for your 2017 Mitsubishi Asx-Centre bearing

2017 Mitsubishi ASX centre-bearing: is it actually a thing?

Short answer: for the 2017 Mitsubishi ASX sold in Australia and New Zealand, a centre-bearing isn’t used. The local 2017 ASX range is front-wheel drive, so there’s no rear propeller shaft to support, which is the bit a centre-bearing normally looks after. This position is backed by Mitsubishi Motors Australia’s 2017 ASX specifications (FWD only for AU/NZ that year) and the Mitsubishi RVR/ASX workshop manual and ASA electronic parts catalogue, which show a centre support bearing only on AWD GA2W variants, not on 2WD GA1W models.

Why’s it not there? A centre-bearing is a support for a two-piece propeller shaft in vehicles that send drive to the rear wheels. The 2017 ASX in AU/NZ is a transverse-engine, front-drive setup, so it uses front CV shafts instead of a long prop shaft down the middle. With no prop shaft, there’s nothing to “centre-support”, so a centre-bearing simply isn’t part of the driveline. On some FWD cars you might hear about an “intermediate shaft support” on one front driveshaft, but that’s a different component and not what’s meant by a prop shaft centre-bearing.

What should owners focus on instead? The usual front-drive wear points:

• Front wheel bearings – listen for a steady hum that rises with road speed.
• CV joints and boots – clicking on full lock or grease flung around the inner guards are classic signs.
• Engine and transmission mounts – perished mounts can mimic driveline vibration.

If you’re looking at a used or imported 2017 ASX that is an AWD (GA2W) from another market, that model does run a propeller shaft with a centre support bearing. In that case, inspect the rubber support and bearing play during routine servicing and replace the assembly if there’s droning, vibration under load, or visible rubber separation. For AU/NZ-delivered 2WD cars though, a “centre-bearing replacement” isn’t a thing—save the coin for tyres, fluids, and alignment.

Technical sources referenced: Mitsubishi Motors ASX/RVR Workshop Manual (Driveline/Propeller Shaft group), Mitsubishi ASA electronic parts catalogue (GA1W 2WD vs GA2W AWD), and Mitsubishi Motors Australia 2017 ASX Specifications brochure confirming FWD-only local range.

FAQs

Does a 2017 Mitsubishi ASX have a centre-bearing?
For Australian and New Zealand–delivered 2017 ASX models, no. They’re front-wheel drive and don’t have a rear propeller shaft, so there’s no centre-bearing. AWD versions in some other markets do use one.

How can someone tell if their ASX actually has a centre-bearing?
Have a look underneath: an AWD ASX will have a propeller shaft running to a rear differential. You’ll also spot a rubber-mounted support roughly mid-way along that shaft—that’s the centre-bearing. A FWD ASX won’t have a prop shaft or rear diff.

What noises on a 2WD ASX get mistaken for a “bad centre-bearing”?
Common red herrings are a droning front wheel bearing, clicking outer CV joints on full lock, or vibration from tired engine/trans mounts. None of these involve a centre-bearing on a 2WD ASX.