What is a front differential assembly?
A differential is part of the front and/or rear axle assembly. The axle is the central shaft that the wheels on the vehicle rotate around. On front wheel drive vehicles the axle/differential assembly is located in the transmission axle assembly (transaxle).
Does a front wheel drive have a differential?
With front-wheel-drive (FWD), the differential is alongside the transmission inside a housing, and the unit is called a transaxle. With rear-wheel-drive (RWD), the differential is between the rear wheels, connected to the transmission by a driveshaft.
What is a front wheel drive transmission and axle assembly called?
A front wheel drive vehicle incorporates the transmission and differential (or drive axle) in one efficient unit, called a transaxle, which is mounted underneath and at the rear of the engine.
What causes a front differential to go bad?
Binding, noise and premature failure of the differential components may be caused by misalignment of the unit, axles or drive shafts. Vibration and a rattle noise while turning can be caused by a damaged or worn axle shaft or CV joint.
Where is the differential in a FWD car?
transaxle
In front wheel drive vehicles the differential is in the front and called a transaxle. In rear-wheel drive vehicles, the differential is in the back. Four wheel drive vehicles have differentials in both the front and back.
Is a transaxle the same as a differential?
is that differential is the differential gear in an automobile etc while transaxle is (automobiles) a single unit combining transmission gearbox, clutch, final drive, and differential are combined into a single unit connected directly to the driveshaft, used mostly in rear-engine cars.
What are the parts of a front-wheel drive?
All FWD cars have 2 axle shafts that deliver power from the differential to the wheels. These are a very common component broken during a collision. They are comprised of 3 major components: shaft, joint (2) and boot (also 2). Shafts and joints break and boots tear.