ch12

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 1 Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.
Chapter 12
Chapter 1
Drive Shaft Assembly
Construction and Operation
Objectives
Explain the purpose of a drive shaft

assembly.
List the major parts of a typical drive
shaft assembly.
Explain the function and operation of a
slip yoke.
Explain the function and operation of a
universal joint.
Objectives
Name and describe different types of

universal joints.
Discuss Hotchkiss drive and torque-
tube drive.
Describe the function of a center
support bearing in a two-piece drive
shaft.
Briefly explain the concept of drive shaft
assembly angles.
Drive Shaft Assembly
Drive shaft assembly (driveline)

transfers power between transmission
and rear axle assembly
Drive shaft assembly consists of:
Slip yoke
Front universal joint
Drive shaft
Rear universal joint
Drive Shaft Assembly (Cont.)
(General Motors)
Slip yoke connects to transmission

output shaft
Rear universal joint connects to
differential through differential pinion
yoke or flange
Balance weights reduce vibration
(Ford)
Drive shafts come in many sizes

Length is measured from center of each
yoke hole on drive shaft ends
(General Motors)
On late-model vehicles, front and rear

axles move to keep chassis level
On rear-wheel drives, rear axle housing
and both rear wheels move up and
down in relation to chassis
Suspension system connects rear axle
assembly to chassis
Drive shaft angle and length must

change to compensate for rear axle
assembly movement
Flexible joints allow drive shaft
assembly to flex or bend as rear axle
assembly moves
Drive Shaft Assembly Power Flow
Transmission to slip yoke

Slip yoke to front universal joint and into
drive shaft
Drive shaft into rear universal joint
Rear universal joint into rear axle
assembly
Drive Shaft
Drive shaft, or propeller shaft, is central

part of drive shaft assembly
Universal joints and other parts are
attached to it
Drive shaft consists of steel tube with
yokes welded or pressed on each end
Shaft is balanced when manufactured
Slip Yoke
Slip yoke
Used where drive
shaft assembly
enters rear of
transmission
Slides on
transmission output
shaft whenever rear
axle assembly
moves
(Ford)
Slip Yoke (Cont.)
Steel tube with yoke

at one end
Yoke attaches to
front universal joint
Internal part of tube
is splined
May have damper
(weight) to absorb
vibration
(Ford)
Universal Joints
Universal joints (U-joints) are swivel

connections, or couplings, that allow
drive shaft assembly to transmit power
smoothly and constantly
Two basic types:
Cross-and-roller
Constant-velocity
Cross-and-Roller U-Joints
Cross-and-roller U-joint
Used on most rear-wheel drives
Sometimes called Cardan U-joint or
conventional U-joint
Cross-and-Roller U-Joints (Cont.)
Center cross (spider) Cup seals keep

Four cups containing grease in cup and
needle bearings prevent entry of dirt
Cups are machined and water
to fit into:
Drive shaft yokes
Slip yoke
Differential pinion
yoke
(General Motors)
(General Motors)
Some U-joints can

be greased
Some U-joints are
sealed at factory
and cannot be
greased unless
disassembled
(Chrysler)
Cups may be held in yokes in different

ways
(Dana)
Some vehicles use

injected plastic to
hold cups in place
(Dana)
Larger vehicles may use more complex

U-joints
(ArvinMeritor)
Conventional U-joint is almost always

driving at an angle, causing drive shaft
speed to rise and fall twice for every
revolution
Range of speed fluctuation increases as
joint angle increases
Fluctuation in drive shaft speed

Created at front U-joint
Canceled at differential pinion yoke by
rear U-joint
When equal angles are formed by U-joint
at transmission and drive shaft and U-joint
at drive shaft and rear axle
Canceled if U-joints are aligned in
phase
CV Joints
Constant-velocity U-joints (CV joints)

Provide extremely smooth power transfer
Are more complicated than conventional
U-joints
Are used by larger rear-wheel drive
vehicles to further reduce vibration
CV Joints (Cont.)
Double Cardan
U-joint
Vibration forces
are cancelled
within center yoke
(General Motors)
CV Joints (Cont.)
Ball-and-trunnion U-joint
Not used on modern vehicles
Separate slip yoke not needed
CV Joints (Cont.)
Rzeppa joint
Ball bearings held by
slotted cross
assembly
Ball bearings move
up and down on
cross as torque is
transmitted through
them
Transmits power
through changing
angles
(Dana)
CV Joints (Cont.)
Tripod joint
Resembles ball-and-trunnion U-joint, but
uses three-pointed cross pin
Often used as inner bearing on front-wheel
drives
Sometimes used on drive axles of rear-
wheel drives with independent rear
suspension
Differential Pinion Yoke
Differential pinion yoke

Connects to drive pinion gear in rear axle
assembly
Has internal splines that fit external splines
on drive pinion gear shaft
Held to shaft by large locknut
Differential Pinion Yoke (Cont.)
Differential pinion
flange, or
companion flange
Two-piece yoke joined
by mating flanges
One flange holds rear
U-joint, other connects
to pinion gear
(Ford)
Classes of Drive Shaft Assemblies
Hotchkiss drive
Used almost exclusively in late-model,
rear-wheel vehicles
Torque-tube drive
Used on some makes of vehicles for many
years, but now uncommon
Hotchkiss Drive
Hotchkiss drive
Used with rear leaf springs
Salsbury drive
Used with coil springs
(Fiat)
Hotchkiss Drive (Cont.)
Variation of Hotchkiss drive:

Constant-velocity U-joint is used
Slip yoke is at rear of shaft
One spline is larger than others
(Ford)
Torque-Tube Drive
Torque-tube drive is designed to

control rear-end torque
Drive shaft connects to transmission output
shaft through U-joint
Other end of shaft connects to drive pinion
gear through coupling or splined
connection
U-joint at only one end
Torque-Tube Drive (Cont.)
Drive shaft assembly can flex only at

U-joint between transmission and drive
shaft
Rear axle assembly moves up and down
in arc as it pivots about U-joint
Distance between transmission and rear
axle assembly is always the same, so no
slip yoke is needed
Two-Piece Drive Shaft
Two-piece drive shaft

Two drive shafts
• Steel tubes with yokes on all four ends
Three universal joints
• Identical to those on one-piece drive shaft
Drive shaft assembly angles are reduced
at each U-joint, reducing vibration
Two-Piece Drive Shaft (Cont.)
Center support
bearing keeps drive
shafts aligned
Slip yoke usually
installed behind
support bearing
Some designs have
two slip yokes
(Fiat)
Two-piece drive shafts:

Were used when vehicle frame design
prevented use of single drive shaft
Were discontinued during 60s and 70s
except on large trucks and some long-bed
pickups
Became common again with increased
popularity of large SUVs
Drive Shaft Assembly Angles
All rotating parts have axial centerline,

or rotational axis
When rotating parts are coupled
together, centerlines must be closely
matched
(Cont.)
Perfect alignment is seldom achieved
(Cont.)
Drive shaft assembly angle (also called

operating angle or U-joint angle)
(Cont.)
On front-engine, rear-wheel drive
vehicles, drive shaft assembly angle
exists between centerlines of:
Transmission output shaft and drive shaft
Drive shaft and drive pinion gear shaft
(Cont.)
Angles are measured at front and rear
U-joints
Manufacturer’s specification is usually
about 1° or 2°
If angle is greater than specified:
Speed fluctuations of shaft tube increase
Shaft may have objectionable vibration
Joint can break
(Cont.)
Angles are affected by:
Added weight to vehicle
Road surface condition
Vehicle acceleration or deceleration
Suspension system wear or alterations
Original angles must be kept as close
as possible to specifications
Review Questions
To compensate for rear axle movement,

the driveshaft ___ and ___ must
change.
Answer: angle, length
Review Questions
The ___ slides on the transmission

output shaft whenever the rear
assembly moves.
Answer: slip yoke
Review Questions
True or False? A slip yoke has external

splines.
Answer: False. A slip yoke has internal

splines.
Review Questions
A swivel connection, or coupling, that

allows the drive shaft assembly to
transmit power smoothly is called a(n)
___.
Answer: universal joint
Review Questions
From the slip yoke, power flows into the

___ and then into the drive shaft.
Answer: front universal joint
Review Questions
A double Cardan U-joint is composed of

two cross-and-roller U-joints connected
by a(n) ___.
Answer: center yoke
Review Questions
A cross-and-roller U-joint is sometimes

called a ___.
A. Cardan U-joint
B. conventional U-joint
C. double Cardan U-joint
D. Both A and B.
Answer: D. Both A and B.

Review Questions
True or False? The Hotchkiss drive is

the most common type of drive shaft
assembly.
Answer: True
Review Questions
In a two-piece drive shaft, the ___

keeps the drive shafts aligned.
Answer: center support bearing
Review Questions
Driveshaft assembly angles are

measured at the front and rear ___.
Answer: U-joints

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© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 1 Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.

Explain the purpose of a drive shaft

Name and describe different types of

Drive shaft assembly (driveline)

Slip yoke connects to transmission

Drive shafts come in many sizes

On late-model vehicles, front and rear

Drive shaft angle and length must

Transmission to slip yoke

Drive shaft, or propeller shaft, is central

Steel tube with yoke

Universal joints (U-joints) are swivel

Center cross (spider) Cup seals keep

Some U-joints can

Cups may be held in yokes in different

Some vehicles use

Larger vehicles may use more complex

Conventional U-joint is almost always

Fluctuation in drive shaft speed

Constant-velocity U-joints (CV joints)

Differential pinion yoke

Variation of Hotchkiss drive:

Torque-tube drive is designed to

Drive shaft assembly can flex only at

Two-piece drive shaft

Two-piece drive shafts:

All rotating parts have axial centerline,

Drive shaft assembly angle (also called

To compensate for rear axle movement,

Answer: angle, length

The ___ slides on the transmission

Answer: slip yoke

True or False? A slip yoke has external

Answer: False. A slip yoke has internal

A swivel connection, or coupling, that

Answer: universal joint

From the slip yoke, power flows into the

Answer: front universal joint

A double Cardan U-joint is composed of

Answer: center yoke

A cross-and-roller U-joint is sometimes

Answer: D. Both A and B.

True or False? The Hotchkiss drive is

In a two-piece drive shaft, the ___

Answer: center support bearing

Driveshaft assembly angles are

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