Parts for your 2018 Toyota Camry-Centre bearing

2018 Toyota Camry centre bearing — is it actually a thing?

Short answer: a centre bearing isn’t fitted to the 2018 Toyota Camry, so it’s not a service item on this model. The XV70 Camry (including AXVA70 2.5‑litre, GSV70 V6 and AXVH70/71 Hybrid variants) runs a front‑wheel‑drive layout with a transverse engine and a transaxle driving two front half‑shafts. There’s no long propeller (tail) shaft running to the rear, so there’s no centre support bearing to hold one up.

This isn’t just workshop lore. Toyota’s technical literature backs it up: the 2018 Camry New Car Features (NCF) manual describes an FWD drivetrain, the Toyota Repair Manual (TIS) for AXVA70/AXVH70/GSV70 covers front drive shafts and CV joints but has no propeller shaft section, and the Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue for AU/NZ lists no propeller shaft or centre (carrier) bearing group for 2018 Camry. AWD only arrived for some markets from later model years, not 2018.

What is a centre bearing anyway? It’s a rubber‑mounted carrier bearing that supports a two‑piece propeller shaft on long wheelbase RWD or AWD vehicles. Because the 2018 Camry doesn’t have a prop shaft, there’s simply nothing to support.

So if someone’s chasing a droning or vibration they reckon is a “centre bearing” on a 2018 Camry, the smart money is on other usual suspects:

• Front wheel bearings or tyre scalloping
• Outer or inner CV joints on the front drive shafts
• Engine and transaxle mounts
• On some variants, the right‑hand front drive intermediate shaft support bearing (not a prop‑shaft centre bearing, but occasionally confused for one)

For routine servicing, focus on what actually applies to this car: inspect front CV boots for splits, check for play or noise in wheel bearings, make sure the intermediate shaft support (if fitted) is tight and quiet, and keep tyres rotated and balanced. If there’s a vibration under load that changes with road speed, a technician should road‑test, then inspect the front shafts, mounts and wheels rather than hunting for a non‑existent tailshaft centre bearing.

In short, a centre bearing isn’t used on the 2018 Toyota Camry because the vehicle’s FWD architecture eliminates the need for a two‑piece propeller shaft. That’s by design, per Toyota’s NCF, Repair Manual and EPC for this model year.

Popular questions about the 2018 Toyota Camry centre bearing

Does a 2018 Camry have a centre (carrier) bearing?
No. The 2018 Camry is front‑wheel drive with no rear propeller shaft, so there’s no centre support bearing fitted. This aligns with Toyota’s 2018 Camry New Car Features, the Repair Manual on TIS, and the AU/NZ parts catalogue for AXVA70/AXVH70/GSV70.

What could cause a centre‑bearing‑like noise on a 2018 Camry?
Common culprits include front wheel bearings, worn or dry CV joints, uneven tyre wear, or a tired engine/transaxle mount. Some variants also have a right‑hand front intermediate shaft with a support bearing, noise from that area can be mistaken for a tailshaft carrier bearing on other vehicles.

Is there any centre‑bearing maintenance for a 2018 Camry?
There’s no prop‑shaft centre bearing to service. During regular servicing, ask for checks on CV boots and joints, wheel bearings, mounts and tyre condition/balance. That’s where real value lies for this model’s driveline health.