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What is the drivetrain in my car and what does it do?
My wife’s car is in the shop with “drivetrain damage.” I don’t know a lot about cars, so I’m not quite sure what this means. What is the drivetrain in my car and what does it do?
Matt Terzi · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
We’re sorry to hear your wife’s car has drivetrain damage. And yes, drivetrain damage can be quite serious, depending on which of the drivetrain’s components aren’t working correctly. But let’s start by explaining what the drivetrain is and what it does.
The drivetrain is a series of components that send power from the engine to the wheels. It’s not just one part but several working together to get the car moving.
The drivetrain starts at the transmission, which takes power from the engine and transmits it to the rest of the drivetrain. The transmission, or “gearbox,” allows the engine to maintain a steady work rate while the car produces more power.
The transmission sends that power to a driveshaft, a pole-like cylinder that spins quickly and sends power to the wheels.
If you have a front-wheel drive car, the driveshaft connects to a CV joint, or constant velocity joint, which sends power to the front wheels even when the wheels are turning left or right.
Then, the differential distributes the power to the wheels on that axle.
We hope this better explains the drivetrain and the main components that make it work. And since you’re already here, this is a good time to help you save a bundle on
car insurance
, too.Jerry
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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