What is a rear drive axle?

What is a rear drive axle?

Rear Axle: This axle is responsible for delivering power to the driving wheels. It comes in two halves, known as half shafts, which are connected by the differential. In most cases, rear axles are live, meaning they rotate with the vehicle’s wheels.

What is drive axle?

The drive axle is a split axle with a differential and universal joints between the two half axles. In rear-wheel drive cars and trucks, the engine turns a driveshaft (also called a propellor shaft or tailshaft) which transmits rotational force to a drive axle at the rear of the vehicle.

How does a drive axle differ from a dead axle?

Live axle is the one through which power is transmitted to the wheels. Dead axle is the axle which only supports the wheels. It does not transfer power or torque to the wheels whatsoever. In case of a front wheel drive, the rear axle is the dead axle, and in case of rear wheel drive, the front axle is dear axle.

Which is the drive axle in a car?

A drive axle is an axle in a vehicle which is powered by an engine. People most commonly think of cars when they think about drive axles, with some cars having the front axle driven by the engine, while others have their rear axles driven by the engine.

How does a semi floating rear drive axle work?

Semi-floating rear drive axles are found in common passenger vehicles and light trucks. The shaft and housing support the weight of the vehicle. The side gears of the differential are used to carry the inner end of the semi-floating rear drive axles to relieve the axle’s shafts of the differential’s weight.

How is the transmission coupled to the drive axle?

The transmission output shaft is coupled to the drive axles via the differential. The differential is a necessary component of the drivetrain because the left and right drive wheels turn at different speeds whenever the car moves along a curve (e.g., turning a corner).

Where are the roller bearings located on a rear drive axle?

Full-floating rear drive axles are used in heavy-duty trucks. A pair of tapered roller bearings carry the outer end of the axle housing. These bearings are located outside of the axle housing. This results in the axle housing taking the full weight of the vehicle.

How does the rear drive axle work in a car?

Rear drive axles are responsible for connecting the differential side gears to the drive wheels. Depending on the vehicle and the drive axle it utilizes, the rear drive axle may or may not be used to support the vehicle’s weight.

Full-floating rear drive axles are used in heavy-duty trucks. A pair of tapered roller bearings carry the outer end of the axle housing. These bearings are located outside of the axle housing. This results in the axle housing taking the full weight of the vehicle.

The transmission output shaft is coupled to the drive axles via the differential. The differential is a necessary component of the drivetrain because the left and right drive wheels turn at different speeds whenever the car moves along a curve (e.g., turning a corner).

Where are the dead axles on a six wheel drive truck?

Six-wheel drive vehicles contain three axles which are all live axles. Dead Axles are used solely as a support for part of the vehicle while providing a mounting for the vehicle’s wheel assembly. Typically, dead axles are found in the front area of commercial trucks and truck-tractors.