Axle Shaft Assembly: Description and Operation

Wheel Drive Shafts Description and Operation
Front Wheel Drive Shafts are flexible assemblies which consist of the following components:
^ Front wheel drive shaft constant velocity joint outer joint.
^ Front wheel drive shaft tri-pot joint inner joint.
^ The front wheel drive shaft connects the front wheel drive shaft tri-pot joint and the front wheel drive shaft constant velocity joint.
^ Wheel Drive Shaft Seal Cover 15 Series
^ The front wheel drive shaft tri-pot joint is completely flexible, and moves with an in and out motion.
^ The front wheel drive shaft constant velocity joint is flexible but can not move in and out.

The Wheel Drive Shaft is a balanced shaft that transmits rotational force from the front differential to the front wheels when the transfer case is engaged. The wheel drive shaft is mounted to the front differential by bolting the flange of the wheel drive shaft to the flange on the inner output shaft of the front differential. The other end of the wheel drive shaft is splined to fit into and drive the hub assembly when the transfer case is engaged. The tri-pot joint and constant velocity joint on the wheel drive shaft allows the shaft to be flexible to move with the suspension travel of the vehicle.