Front-Wheel-Drive (Transaxle

and CV Joint) Fundamentals

Chapter 77

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 Objectives
Describe differences between front- and rear-
wheel drivetrains
Tell the names of parts of a transaxle
Trace the power flow through four- and five-
speed transaxles

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 Introduction
Most automobiles today have front-wheel drive
FWD car has transaxle
Drive axles extend to front wheels out of each
side of transaxle
Each end of the drive axle is a CV joint
Transaxle can be either manual or automatic

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 Front-Wheel Drive
Advantages
More efficient drivetrain
Better fuel economy
Combined with MacPherson struts: less
unsprung weight for better handling
Transmission hump is eliminated
A few FWD engines have been mounted
longitudinally
Most transaxles mounted sideways

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 Manual Transaxle
Manual transaxles and transmissions
Use same kind of clutch
Three parallel paths for power flow
Input shaft located above intermediate shaft
Input shaft gears directly drive output shaft gears
Differential assembly
Gear shafts
Supported by larger ball, roller, or tapered roller
bearings
End play is controlled by thrust washers
2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 Shift Linkage
Transverse transaxles
Shifted by cables or shift linkage
Two shift cables or rods
One moves a selector on transaxle
Other moves shift fork back and forth
Advantage
Engine shake is not transmitted back to drivers
hand on shift lever

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 Transaxle Differential
Allows wheels to turn at different speeds when
rounding corners
Same as rear-wheel-drive differential
Ordinary helical gearset
Used instead of bevel gears
Power from differential side gears is transmitted
to front drive axles through axle shafts

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 Transaxle Power Flow
Five-speed power flow
Fixed gears for first, second, and reverse on
input shaft
Fixed gears for third, fourth, fifth on intermediate
shaft
Power flow leaves transmission intermediate
shaft
Continues through drive pinion to axles
Engine is mounted sideways
Axles run parallel to input shaft

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 Automatic Transaxle
Combination of automatic transmission and
differential
Same parts and operation apply
Transverse engine
Power flow is through gears or sprocket and
chain
Chain drive
Allows transaxle to be mounted slightly below
and to the side of the engine

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 Front Drive Axles
Difference between rear-wheel drive and front-
wheel drive axles
Front-wheel drive axles have CV joints at ends
Axles driven at sharper angles
Allow steering front wheels during power
transmission
Universal joint changes output speed twice in
every revolution when run at an angle
Rear-wheel drive vehicle drive shaft turns very
fast
Positioned before gear reduction of differential
2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 Axle Shaft Parts
Drive axle is called half shaft or axle shaft
Stub shaft (stub axle)
Short shaft at outside end
Splined to front hub so it can drive front wheels
CV joint classifications
Inboard and outboard
Fixed and plunge
Ball and tripod

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 CV Joint Construction
Most common joint combination
Rzeppa joint for outside fixed joint and a tripod
for inside plunge joint
Fixed joints
Rzeppa joint: ball-and-socket type
Types of plunge joints
Tripod tulip
Double offset plunge joint
Cross groove plunge joint

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 Axle Shafts
Characteristics
May be solid or hollow
May have damper weights to absorb vibration
Turn much slower than rear-wheel drive shaft
Balance not as important
When different lengths: long one twists and lags
before puts its torque to the wheel
Torque steer is prevented by longer axle shaft of
larger diameter tubing

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 CV Joint Boots
Boots at each end of axle contain grease
Protect joint from the elements
CV joint boot
Attached to axle and stub shafts with plastic or
steel bands or straps
Made of natural rubber, neoprene, silicone, or
urethane

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning