Wheel Drive Shafts Description and Operation: Notes

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2008 Buick LaCrosse and 2008 Buick Allure. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Front wheel drive axles are flexible assemblies.

Front wheel drive axles consist of the following components:

A front wheel drive shaft tri-pot joint (inner joint)
A front wheel drive shaft constant velocity joint (outer joint)
A front wheel drive shaft
The front wheel drive shaft connects the front wheel drive shaft tri-pot joint and the front wheel drive shaft constant velocity joint.

The front wheel drive shaft tri-pot joint is completely flexible. The front wheel drive shaft tri-pot joint can move in and out.

The front wheel drive shaft constant velocity joint is flexible, but the front wheel drive shaft constant velocity joint cannot move in and out.