| Differential Basics |
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In addition, cars have joints that work just like a knee or elbow. A universal joint lets the drive line between the transmission and differential bend as needed. A constant-velocity (CV) joint lets the drive line on a front-wheel drive car bend. As you can imagine, these joints will need servicing. You’ll also hear the term drive train on this and other auto websites. The drive train is simply all the components that move the car forward: engine, clutch or torque converter, transmission, joints, and differential or drive axle.
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The engine’s power still hasn’t arrived at the wheels. There’s one more step. As a car turns, one wheel must rotate faster than the other wheel on the same axle. The differential has small gears in it that distribute the transmission’s rotation power to the wheels as needed.
