What is a Drive Axle and How Does it Work?

1. What is an Axle?
What is a Drive Axle and How Does it Work?
source: http://www.buyautoparts.com/howto/repair-axle-parts.htm

2. What is an Axle? Part 1
• There are a few different kinds of axles that can be found on vehicle on
the road today. There are drive axles, CV axles and some multi joint axles
for custom applications. A drive axle is a shaft with a splined section on
each end that can transfer the engines power from the transmission to the
wheels or hubs.
• A drive axle does not bend and are designed for vehicles where the axle
has a direct shot to the hub or transaxle. Mainly for mid-engine or rear
wheel drive cars.
• Constant-velocity joints allow a drive shaft to transmit power through a
variable angle, at constant rotational speed, without an appreciable
increase in friction. They are mainly used in front wheel drive and all-
wheel drive cars. Rear wheel drive cars with independent rear suspension
typically use CV joints at the ends of the rear axle halfshafts. Constant -
velocity joints are protected by a rubber boot, a CV gaiter. Cracks and splits
in the boot will allow the joint to corrode and a new joint would need to
be fitted if the joint is not removed early enough, cleaned, greased, and a
new boot fitted.
source: http://www.buyautoparts.com/howto/what-is-a-axle.htm

3. What is an Axle? Part 2
• Early front wheel drive systems used axles similar four wheel drive
vehicles where a cross-shaped metal pivot sits between two forked
carriers. These are not CV joints as, except for specific
configurations, they result in a variation of the transmitted speed.
They are simple to make and can be tremendously strong, and are
still used to provide a flexible coupling in some propshafts, where
there is not very much movement.
• As front wheel drive systems became more popular, with cars such
as the Mini using compact transverse engine layouts, the
shortcomings of universal joints in front axles became more and
more apparent. Based on a design by Alfred H. Rzeppa, constant
velocity joints solved a lot of these problems. They allowed a
smooth transfer of power despite the wide range of angles through
which they were bent.
source: http://www.buyautoparts.com/howto/what-is-a-axle.htm

4. What is an Axle? Part 3
source: http://www.buyautoparts.com/howto/what-is-a-axle.htm

5. How Does a CV Axle Work? Part 1
• Constant-velocity joints allow a drive shaft to transmit power through a variable angle, at
constant rotational speed, without an appreciable increase in friction. They are mainly used
in front wheel drive and all-wheel drive cars. Rear wheel drive cars with independent rear
suspension typically use CV joints at the ends of the rear axle halfshafts. Constant -velocity
joints are protected by a rubber boot, a CV gaiter. Cracks and splits in the boot will allow the
joint to corrode and a new joint would need to be fitted if the joint is not removed early
enough, cleaned, greased, and a new boot fitted.
• Early front wheel drive systems used axles similar four wheel drive vehicles where a cross-
shaped metal pivot sits between two forked carriers. These are not CV joints as, except for
specific configurations, they result in a variation of the transmitted speed. They are simple to
make and can be tremendously strong, and are still used to provide a flexible coupling in
some propshafts, where there is not very much movement.
• As front wheel drive systems became more popular, with cars such as the Mini using compact
transverse engine layouts, the shortcomings of universal joints in front axles became more
and more apparent. Based on a design by Alfred H. Rzeppa, constant velocity joints solved a
lot of these problems. They allowed a smooth transfer of power despite the wide range of
angles through which they were bent.
source: http://www.buyautoparts.com/howto/how-does-a-cv-axle-work.htm

6. How
Does a
CV Axle
Work?
Part 2
source:
http://www.buyautoparts.
com/howto/how-does-a-
cv-axle-work.htm

7. What is an Axle?
The End
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