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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 ?