The drive shaft, or propeller shaft, connects

the transmission output shaft to the

differential pinion shaft. Since all roads are
not perfectly smooth, and the transmission
is fixed, the drive shaft has to be flexible to
absorb the shock of bumps in the road.
Universal, or "U-joints" allow the drive shaft
to flex (and stop it from breaking) when the
drive angle changes.
Drive shafts are usually hollow in order to weigh
less, but of a large diameter so that they are
strong. High quality steel, and sometimes
aluminum are used in the manufacture of the
drive shaft. The shaft must be quite straight and
balanced to avoid vibrating. Since it usually turns
at engine speeds, a lot of damage can be caused
if the shaft is unbalanced, or bent. Damage can
also be caused if the U-joints are worn out.
Hotchkiss drive
Torque Tube Drive.
The Hotchkiss drive is made up of a drive shaft
connected to the transmission output shaft and the
differential pinion gear shaft. U-joints are used in
the front and rear. The Hotchkiss drive transfers the
torque of the output shaft to the differential. No
wheel drive thrust is sent to the drive shaft.
Sometimes this drive comes in two pieces to
reduce vibration and make it easier to install (in this
case, three U-joints are needed).The two-piece
types need ball bearings in a dustproof housing as
center support for the shafts. Rubber is added into
this arrangement for noise and vibration reduction.
The torque tube drive shaft is used if the drive shaft has
to carry the wheel drive thrust. It is a hollow steel tube
that extends from the transmission to the rear axle
housing. One end is fastened to the axle housing by
bolts. The transmission end is fastened with a torque
ball. The drive shaft fits into the torque tube. A U-joint is
located in the torque ball, and the axle housing end is
splined to the pinion gear shaft. Drive thrust is sent
through the torque tube to the torque ball, to
transmission, to engine and finally, to the frame through
the engine mounts. That is, the car is pushed forward by
the torque tube pressing on the engine.
Universal joints are capable of
transmitting torque and rotational
motion from one shaft to another when
their axes are inclined to each other by
some angle, which may constantly vary
under working conditions.
The Universal joint (U-joint) is used to
connect the drive shaft to the transmission
output shaft and the differential pinion gear
shaft. This joint must be flexible enough to
allow changes in the driving angle (road
incline) and the drive shaft. This way, the
torque is constantly transmitted when the
rear axle is moving up and down
Propeller shaft end joints between longitudinally
front mounted gearbox and rear final drive axle.

Rear axle drive shaft end joints between the

sprung final drive and the unsprung rear wheel stub
axle.

Front axle drive shaft end joints between the

sprung front mounted final drive and the unsprung
front wheel steered stub axle.
 Itconsists of two y shaped yokes , one on
drive shaft and other on driven shaft . The
four arm of the spider is known as
Trunnion are assembled into bearing in
the end of two shaft yokes. The drive shaft
and driven shaft are at an angle of each
other . The bearing in the yokes permit
the yoke to swing around on the
trunnions with each revolution
 Variable velocity joints
 Cross or spider type
 Ring type
 Ball & Trunnion type

 Constant velocity joints

 Bendix wiess
 Rzeppa
 Tracta
 In these joints drive and driven shafts do not turn at same
speed through each part of revolution although they turn at
same r.p.m. the driving and driven shaft should therefore in
straight line so that they may turn at same speed through
each part of revolution. But in automobile it is not feasible
as the drive shaft is inclined . When there is an angle
between drive and driven shafts the driven shaft turn at
lower than driving shaft through a half a revolution and
faster than driving shaft through other half revolution. Thus
average speed of driven shaft is equal to driving shaft. The
speed variation in the driven shaft increases when flex of
angle of the universal joint increases
 It consists of cross piece or spider and two yokes,
therefore, it is known as cross type of spider and two
yoke type universal joint. There are four needle bearings
, one for each trunnion of spider . The bearing are held in
place by rings heat drop into under cuts in the yokes
bearing holes.
 One commercial design of the commercial type universal
joint incorporates a slip joint . One yoke is integral with
hub that holds the female end of slip joint. When the joint
is used between propeller shaft and rear axle gear shaft,
the slip joint is omitted so that a direct connection is
made between two units .
 These type of joints are mostly used with the drive shafts
–”Hotchkiss Drive”
 A Ring type joint employs a flexible ring and acts due
to its flexing. The shafts are provided with two or
three arm spiders , the arm of which are bolted to
the opposite faces of flexible ring, the arm of one
spider being arranged midway between the arm of
other . The flexible ring is usually made of one or
more rings rubberized fabric made in a special way
for providing special strength. Sometimes a thin
steel discs are used instead of fabric rings. When
the shafts are revolving about their axes, there is
continuous flexing of ring to enable drive through
varied angles
Merits :
 It can accommodate a considerable
amount of axial movement of shaft.
 It helps in smoothing out torque
fluctuation.
 It needs no lubrication

Demerits:
 Its only drawback is that ring does not
withstand for a long time.
 This joint combines both universal and
slip-joint in one assembly. It allows axial
movement with in the joint so no separate
joint is necessary. The balls are mounted
on a spider through needle bearing. Each
ball fits into a partly cylindrical housing
bore that runs in a axial direction This
provides a mean to drive through joint in a
radial direction and allows slip in axial
direction.
 In the constant velocity joints, driven shaft
turn at the same speed as the driving shaft,
through each part of its revolution and any
degree of flex.
 These joints are mostly used in front drive
axles where the joint must transmit power
through a large scale and at the same time
not introduce a speed variation and
vibration which would cause steering
difficulty and excessive tire wear.
Constant Velocity Joints
 It is a constant velocity joint and also acts as slip
joint. It consists of two spider each having three or
four arms . Each spider arm is located between the
adjacent arm of the second spider. The motion of the
one set of spider arm is transferred to the other
spider arm by steel balls wedged in grooves that are
cut at an angle so that the ball always operate in the
plane that bisects the joint’s operating angle . Thus it
operates at a constant velocity.
 The joint is generally used in front wheel drive
vehicles where steering is another universal joint
requirement
Bendix Weiss constant velocity type joint
Pictorial view

Exploded view

Bendix tracta joint

 Itconsists of spherical inner and outer ball
races which have grooves cuts parallel to
the shaft. Steel balls are held in the
grooves of the spherical races. The torque
is transmitted from one race to another by
balls . The circular pattern of the balls
results in both shafts to turn at same
velocity.
Rzeppa constant velocity joint
 In this joint there are four yokes; two of
them fastened to the shaft and other two
floating in the centre of joint. The mating
parts of the yokes are the segments of a
circle. The circular segment and floating
action of two yokes results to constant
velocity joint.
 It differs from above two joints as it
separates off under tension or pull.
Tracta CV joint
A Joint that will transfer driving Torque from
one shaft to another while allowing
longitudinal movement between the two
shafts. A variable length connection that
permits the Driveshaft or axle shaft to
change its length as the shaft moves up
and down. The British term is sliding joint.
 A connection in an exhaust pipe where one
pipe slips into another.
Slip yoke
 A component at the front of the first U-joint which
accommodates changes in drive shaft length as
the rear axle assembly moves up and down with
the rear suspension. Internal splines on the U-joint
yoke slide in and out on the external splines of the
transmission output shaft. This splined coupling
also allows the drive shaft to be removed from the
vehicle when the rear U-joint is disconnected. The
drive shaft may fall to the ground and be ruined if
either U-joint breaks while the vehicle is in motion.
