Believe it or not, there can be a bit of confusion when determining the difference between a transmission and a transaxle. On front-wheel-drive vehicles, rear engine – rear wheel drive vehicles, and certain sports cars, a transaxle is used in place of a traditional transmission. This is because a transaxle combines the functionality and gear ratios of a transmission, with the power delivery of a differential. Since there is no driveshaft needed for this type of layout, CV joints do the job of delivering power to the driven wheels. So your vehicle might have a transaxle instead of a transmission, just like a Corvette! Let’s see if that’s the case.
What Transmission Do I Have?
Transaxle vs transmission
Transmissions are commonly used on vehicles that have the drive wheels located at the opposite end of the vehicle from the engine. The output shaft of the transmission connects to the differential and drive wheels through a long tube called the driveshaft.
A transaxle is a transmission (manual, automatic or CVT), differential and axle all combined into one single unit. These are used on vehicles where the engine, transmission and drive wheels are all on the same end of the vehicle. However sometimes, a transaxle could be used on rear wheel drive sports cars to provide a more balanced weight distribution.
What does a transaxle do?
Just like a typical transmission, a transaxle is responsible for taking engine power and delivering it to the drive wheels. In a transaxle, the transmission’s output shaft delivers engine power directly to the ring gear in the differential. From there, power is sent through the axles/half shafts, and finally out through the CV joints to the driven wheel(s).
What Transmission Do I Have?
So do I have a transaxle in my car?
Well, if you drive a front-wheel-drive or mid engine sports car, then there is a very good chance that you do have a transaxle. To get a better look at the transaxle in your vehicle, click here to visit Street Smart Transmission.
