5/30/2014 Location of driving axles

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Safety & Information: Vehicle Configurations: Drive configurations
Location of driving axles
Summary
Vehicles can have single or multiple driving axles,
depending on the vehicle design or purpose.
The location of the driving axle determines whether the vehicle
is classified as
1. rear-wheel drive
2. front-wheel-drive
3. 4-wheel drive
4. all-wheel-drive
Rear-wheel-drive vehicles can use a conventional layout with
the engine at the front of the vehicle. The torque from the engine
is transmitted to the rear-mounted driving axle by propeller, or
drive shaft. This spreads the weight of components throughout
the vehicle.
Some rear-wheel-drive vehicles have the engine at the rear,
driving the wheels through a combination transmission and
rear axle called a transaxle. The transaxle is lighter than a
separate transmission and rear axle.
Moving the engine to the rear allows a lower bonnet line, which
improves aerodynamics. The increase in weight over the rear
wheels can improve their traction.
A vehicle which has the engine located behind the operators
cabin, but forward of the rear driving axle is called a mid-engine,
rear-wheel-drive vehicle.
A mid-engine design locates the mass of the engine behind the
driver but forward of the rear axle. This allows for a low bonnet
profile, and good handling.
Most goods-carrying, rigid commercial vehicles locate the
engine near the front, and drive the rear axle by a 2-piece
propeller shaft. The rear axle supports most of the goods, or
payload.
Mini-buses commonly locate the engine at the front of the vehicle, beneath the operators
cabin, and drive the rear axle by a propeller-shaft.
Larger buses and coaches locate the engine at the rear. This allows the vehicle to have
a low floor, and removes much of the noise and vibration from the passenger
compartment.
Front-wheel-drive vehicles use the front wheels to pull the vehicle along. In light
passenger vehicles it gives lighter body weight, and increased interior room.
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5/30/2014 Location of driving axles
http://www.cdxetextbook.com/safetyInfo/config/driveConfig/driveaxlelocation.html 2/2
The engine and
transaxle are at the
front, and can be
mounted laterally, that
is, the engine is
parallel to the front
axle, or longitudinally
where the engine is
inline with the centre
line of the vehicle.