Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/3/84; site panda.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!harvard!talcott!panda!axa From: axa@panda.UUCP (Andrew Alvino) Newsgroups: net.auto.tech Subject: Re: wheel bearings Message-ID: <1078@panda.UUCP> Date: Fri, 8-Nov-85 10:34:32 EST Article-I.D.: panda.1078 Posted: Fri Nov 8 10:34:32 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 10-Nov-85 15:21:40 EST References: <2427@sunybcs.UUCP> <204@ucdavis.UUCP> <2180@amdahl.UUCP> <114@emacs.UUCP> <974@lll-crg.ARpA> Reply-To: axa@panda.UUCP (Andrew Alvino) Distribution: net Organization: GenRad, Inc., Concord, Mass. Lines: 23 >CV or constant velocity joints serve the same purpose in a front wheel >drive car that U-joints serve on a rear wheel drive car. That is, they >allow a flexible connection between the transaxle ( or transmission) and >the drive wheels. On a fwd car there is a CV joint at each end of each >drive shaft. One connects to the transaxle and the other to the wheel. >They are called constant velocity joints because they provide for the >linear transfer of angular velocity through the joint. That is, if a shaft >on one side if the CV joint is run at a constant 3000 RPM a wheel connected >to the other side will run at a constant 3000 RPM regardless of the angle >of the joint. If you run a constant 3000 RPM into a U-joint you will get an >output that only averages 3000 RPM but actually speeds up and slows down >during a single revolution (play with the U-joints in a socket-wrench set >and you will see what I mean). This non-linear transfer of rotation >depends on the angle of the U-joint. For a straight joint the effect is >zero. And for the small angles encountered in rear wheel drive it >is negligable. However, it cannot be neglected in the angles encountered >in a fwd car. The angles are greater because the drive shafts are so much >shorter and the wheels also have to turn to steer. So fwd cars use CV >joints so that their drive trains don't self-destruct. if this is true, then how can I have universal joints at each front wheel on my solid front axel jeep cj-7 4x4 and my independent front suspension bronco II 4x4 ?