Driveline System: Notes

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2009 Ford Ranger. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The driveline consists of the following:

Front driveshaft
CV joints
Front drive axle
Front axle halfshafts
Rear driveshafts
U-joints and flanges
Center support bearings
Rear drive axle
Rear axle halfshafts

The source of the drivetrain's power is generated by the engine and delivered to the transmission. The driveline transfers the engine torque through the driveshaft to the axle and halfshafts. On Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) vehicles, power is transmitted through the transmission to the driveshaft, rear axle and halfshafts. On Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) vehicles, power is transmitted through the transmission and the transfer case. The transfer case directs the power to the rear driveshaft and then to the rear axle. When engaged, it also transmits power through the front driveshaft to the front axle and halfshafts. The axles are mounted to the vehicle in rubber isolators and the necessary changes in driveshaft length are provided in the CV joints or driveshaft slip joints. The engine torque enters the axle through the drive pinion, which rotates the ring gear. The ring gear is mounted to the differential case, which contains the gears that transmit power to the splined front or rear axle halfshafts or halfshafts and allow the halfshafts to turn at varying speeds as when cornering. These halfshafts rotate the drive wheels.