Parts for your 2020 Honda Odyssey-Universal joints

2020 Honda Odyssey universal joints — are they even a thing?

Short answer: universal joints aren’t a drivetrain item on the 2020 Honda Odyssey. Per Honda’s 2018–2020 Odyssey Service Manual (Driveline/Axle), the front driveshafts use constant velocity (CV) joints — tripod-type on the inner ends and Rzeppa-type on the outers — and there’s no propeller shaft at all. The 2020 Odyssey is front-wheel drive, so it doesn’t need the tailshaft-and-U‑joint setup you’d find in a rear‑wheel drive or 4x4. The Honda Electronic Parts Catalogue for 2020 likewise lists CV shafts, boots and related hardware, but no driveline universal joints. Honda’s scheduled maintenance information also doesn’t include U‑joint inspections or lubrication for this model year.

Why it doesn’t have them comes down to layout and function:

• Transverse engine and transaxle drive the front wheels directly — there’s no rear diff and no prop shaft to hang U‑joints on.
• Front suspension and steering movement require smooth speed through big angles, CV joints handle this without the speed fluctuation a traditional U‑joint creates.
• Factory service procedures and parts listings specify CV joints and boots as the serviceable bits, not U‑joints.

Worth noting: there is a small universal joint in the steering intermediate shaft (often called a steering knuckle). That’s not a drivetrain U‑joint, and on the Odyssey it’s a sealed component replaced as an assembly if it wears or binds.

If someone’s chasing clunks, shudders or vibrations and thinking “U‑joints”, a better checklist for a 2020 Odyssey would be:

1. Inspect CV boots for splits and grease fling, listen for clicking on full lock indicating outer CV wear.
2. Check front wheel bearings, engine and trans mounts, and tyre condition/balance.
3. Verify alignment and look for bent rims after kerb hits.

So, for anyone searching “2020 Honda Odyssey universal joints”, the relevant maintenance target is actually the CV joints and boots. Keep the boots intact, use the correct moly grease if a boot is replaced, and torque axle nuts to spec after any front-end work — that’s the path to quiet, long-lived front drive hardware.

• Does a 2020 Honda Odyssey have universal joints in the drivetrain?
  Not in the driveline, no. The 2020 Odyssey is front‑wheel drive and uses CV joints on the front half‑shafts. Honda’s service manual and parts catalogue for this model list CV assemblies and boots, but no prop shaft or driveline U‑joints.
• What should be serviced instead of U‑joints on a 2020 Odyssey?
  The CV joints and their rubber boots. Check boots for tears and grease leaks during regular servicing, especially if the vehicle sees lots of stop‑start or tight turning. Replace damaged boots promptly to avoid CV wear.
• Is there a steering shaft universal joint, and can it be serviced?
  Yes, the steering intermediate shaft uses a small universal joint. It’s a sealed component, if it develops play or stiffness, it’s replaced as an assembly rather than lubricated.