Transmissions: Final Drive & Drive Shafts: Rear-wheel drive

Rear-wheel drive shafts	The propeller shaft transfers the drive from the transmission to the final drive. It is normally of a hollow, tubular construction.
Universal joints	The most common type of universal joint fitted to propeller shafts is known as a Hookes joint or a cross and roller joint.
Rear-wheel final drives	In a conventional rear-wheel drive vehicle, a crownwheel and pinion transfers the drive through ninety degrees and provides a final gear reduction to the driving road wheels.
Salisbury axles	In Salisbury axles the carrier is integral with the axle housing and a removable cover gives access to the final drive components.
Rear-wheel drive differentials	The differential gears are bevel gears which are mounted at right angles to each other inside the differential case.
Limited slip differentials	Limited slip differentials allow differential action under normal driving conditions but reduce or prevent differential action when conditions are not normal so that a wheel cannot spin.

Topic	Summary