Driveline System: Notes

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2016 Ford Expedition. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The driveline is composed of the following:

Front driveshaft
CV joints
Front drive axle
Front axle halfshafts
Rear driveshaft
U-joints and flanges
Flex couplers
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.

On RWD vehicles, power is transmitted through the transmission to the driveshaft and then to the rear axle.
On 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.

The rear driveshaft is connected to the output shaft of the transmission or transfer case and to the rear axle. The front driveshaft is connected to the transfer case and to the front axle. For Expedition, slip yokes are used to allow for any changes to the length of the driveshaft. Navigator RWD vehicles use a fixed flange at the transmission with a flex coupling. Changes in length are self adjusted up in the driveshaft slip mechanism. 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 rear axle halfshafts or front halfshafts. These halfshafts rotate the drive wheels.