Drive Shafts and Universal Joints_ch06.pdf

Introduction On front engined rear-wheel-drive cars, the rotary motion of the transmission’s output shaft is carried through the drive shaft to the differential, which causes the rear drive wheels to turn (Figure 6-1). The drive shaft is normally made from seamless steel or aluminum tubing with Universal joint yokes welded to both ends of the shaft (Figure 6-2). To save weight, some manufacturers use epoxy-and-carbon fiber shafts. Some drive lines have two drive shafts and three Universal joints and use a center support bearing that serves as the connecting link between the two halves (Figure 6-3). Four-wheel-drive vehicles use two drive shafts, one to drive the front wheels and the other to drive the rear wheels (Figure 6-4). FWD cars, 4WD vehicles equipped with an independent front suspension, and RWD vehicles equipped with independent rear suspension use an additional Drive Shafts and Universal Joints Upon completion and review of this chapter, you should be able to: Although most late model cars are front- wheel drive, which are not equipped with a drive shaft and Universal joints, the best selling vehicles in America are pickup trucks, which do have a drive shaft and Universal joints. These, plus the many older cars on the road, give many opportunities to technicians trained in the diagnosis and repair of drive shafts and Universal joints. The short drive shafts or axles used on FWD, 4WD, and RWD with IRS are called half-shafts. 135 C H A P T E R 6 ? Understand and describe the purpose and construction of common RWD drive shaft designs. ? Understand and describe the purpose and construction of common Universal joint designs. ? Explain the importance of drive shaft balance. ? Explain the natural speed variations inherent to a drive shaft. ? Describe the effects of canceling Universal joint angles. Figure 6-1 RWD drive train. U-joints Differential Drive shaft Transmission Driving axles The drive shaft is an assembly of one or two Universal joints connected t