Who I am ---------- Disclaimer Automotive glossary Shaft Drive Synonym: Cardan

Definition Shaft Drive: On many vehicles the transmission of the operating torque from the engine, resp. the gear box to the drive wheels takes place via a drive shaft. That is a rod (cardan) , that rotates aound its rotation axis and is placed in longitudinal vehicle direction. So it requires the conversion of the rotation for a right angle, to be turned into the rotation axis of the wheels. This is accomplished by a cardan joint, where toothed wheels or the like mesh right-angled. Drive shafts are used with cars that have rear wheel drive and the engine placed in front. In motorcycles it often substitutes the wearout susceptible chain. All definitions