Parts for your 2017 Mitsubishi Lancer-Centre bearing

Understanding the Centre Bearing in the 2017 Mitsubishi Lancer

For those interested in the technical side of the 2017 Mitsubishi Lancer, the notion of a centre bearing may come up, especially when researching drivetrain components and their maintenance. However, a centre bearing is not a part that features in the design of the 2017 Mitsubishi Lancer. This is simply because of the specific drivetrain layout and engineering choices Mitsubishi made for this model.

The 2017 Mitsubishi Lancer primarily comes with either a front-wheel-drive (FWD) configuration or in some markets, all-wheel drive (AWD). The front-wheel-drive variants use a transversely mounted engine paired with a transaxle, which sends power directly to the front wheels. In this setup, the length of the driveshafts (or half shafts) are relatively short and do not require additional support in the middle of their span. As a result, a centre bearing, which is typically used to support a long driveshaft running the length of the vehicle, is unnecessary.

Centre bearings tend to be found on vehicles with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD) layouts that employ a lengthy driveshaft to transfer power from the transmission at the front of the vehicle to the differential at the rear. They support the driveshaft, reducing vibration and helping maintain alignment and balance as the shaft rotates at high speeds. Since the Lancer uses a transaxle system where the shafts are relatively short and mounted close to the transmission, there is no need for a centre bearing in its drivetrain.

Another reason a centre bearing is not fitted to the 2017 Mitsubishi Lancer relates to the vehicle's chassis design. Lightweight and compact components are used to maintain efficiency and performance while keeping manufacturing costs sensible. Adding a centre bearing adds complexity and weight, which is unnecessary for the Lancer's drivetrain configuration. This helps explain why you won't find this part on the Lancer, even though it's common on larger RWD or 4WD vehicles.

For owners and mechanics servicing a 2017 Mitsubishi Lancer, it means there is no centre bearing to worry about replacing or maintaining. Instead, service and maintenance efforts should be focused on the front CV joints, axles, transmission, differential (for AWD models), and other components specific to its drivetrain layout.

Although the centre bearing is absent, drivetrain components on the Lancer still require regular checks. For instance, the CV joints and boots need inspection for cracks, leaks or wear because these parts undergo continuous rotational movement under load. If these components fail, they can cause vibrations or loss of power delivery, symptoms that might otherwise be confused with issues related to driveshaft or centre bearing problems on other vehicles.

So, if you are trying to diagnose vibration or noise issues on a 2017 Mitsubishi Lancer, it's a good reminder not to look for a centre bearing problem in this model's drivetrain. Instead, start with the CV boots, joints, suspension parts, wheel bearings, and transmission mounts. These are the components that play a significant role in absorbing and managing vibrations and maintaining drivetrain integrity for this car.

In short, the 2017 Mitsubishi Lancer is a car that does not use a centre bearing because of its front-wheel-drive or AWD transaxle-based drivetrain design. This design eliminates the need for the additional shaft support that the centre bearing provides on other vehicle types. Knowing this helps clarify what parts need routine attention and which ones are simply not relevant to this model.