What does drivetrain on a vehicle mean?
What is a drivetrain on a vehicle do?
WHAT DOES THE DRIVETRAIN DO?
Our vehicle's drivetrain connects the engine to the wheels which makes the vehicle move. As our vehicle's engine is running, the drivetrain helps send power through the transmission to the drive wheels. The drive wheels can be either the front wheels, rear wheels or all the wheels. They also may be referred to as front-wheel, rear-wheel, and all-wheel drive.
HOW CAN I TELL WHICH TYPE OF DRIVETRAIN MY VEHICLE HAS?
As easy as this sounds you may look in your owner's manual and it should have it stated in there. If you are not able to find it in the manual, here is another way to find out. If the engine is mounted sideways this means the belts will also face sideways. If the belts face one side of the vehicle or the other, it is probably front-wheel drive. If the engine is mounted front-to-back with the belts facing you as you stand in front of the vehicle it is likely rear-wheel drive.
PARTS OF THE DRIVETRAIN
Transmission- Transfers power from the engine to the wheels, as well as enabling gear-shifting in accordance to the driver's needs.
Axle Shafts- On both sides of the rear differential are the axle shafts. The axle shafts help deliver power from the differential to the rear drive wheels.
Differential- The differential is usually positioned in the middle of the axle and distributes equal power to each drive wheel. The differential is on the drive wheels' axle. If the vehicle is front wheel drive it is on the front axle. If the vehicle is rear wheel drive it is on the rear axle and if the vehicle is all-wheel drive it is both axles.
Driveshaft- The driveshaft is a steel or aluminum cylinder that connects the u-joint at the back of most transmissions to the u-joint near the rear axle. The driveshaft allows the transmission to provide torque to the wheels.
CV Joint- The CV Joint is designed to bend in any direction, allowing your axle to move with your vehicle while still turning the drive wheels. The CV Joints are usually found on front-wheel drive vehicles where the drive shaft connects the front axle to the front driving wheels.
U-Joint- The U-Joint is a flexible point on the driveshaft that allows the shaft to pivot and move when the vehicle goes over bumps in the road.
Bob's Main Street Auto & Towing is ready to help you with your vehicle needs in the Washington County area. It is important to know the drivetrain of your vehicle but maintaining it is another! Our experts are trained to understand your vehicle's needs based on make and model to help you get the right car care! Call us today to schedule your appointment and our team will check over your entire drivetrain system on your vehicle.
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