A centrifugal pump impeller support system and apparatus is described. A centrifugal pump includes an impeller including an impeller eye skirt extending axially from an eye of the impeller, and in certain stages, a balance ring skirt, and an impeller support insert secured around an outer diameter of at least one of the impeller skirts, each of the at least one impeller support inserts including a sleeve extending tubularly around the impeller skirt, and a flange extending perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the centrifugal pump shaft. A diffuser stacked adjacent to the impeller includes a bushing secured around an inner diameter of the diffuser flow exit outward of the impeller eye skirt support insert or a bushing secured around an inner diameter of the flow entrance outward of the balance ring skirt support insert.