Drive Shaft: Description

Drive shaft assemblies may have one, 2 or 3 shafts, depending on application. Locations of slip joints vary with model application. Solid tube type drive shafts have slip joints on outside of "U" joint flange/yoke. This slip joint slides in and out on transmission's splined main shaft.

Drive shafts are balanced, tubular shafts with "U" joints attached at each end. Flanges or yokes are used to connect drive shaft "U" joints to rear differential pinion flange or to transmission output shaft. "U" joint bearing caps are bolted to shaft flanges, or are pressed into shaft yokes. Drive shafts can be steel or aluminum.