What is a Drivetrain?

By Mister Transmission

A drivetrain may be the least understood part of a vehicle. This is due to several factors, including the fact that the term “drivetrain” is often used interchangeably with powertrain and driveline.

The drivetrain includes the transmission, the driveshaft, the axles, and the wheels. Simply put, it works in conjunction with the engine to move the wheels. The drivetrain system is an essential component of a vehicle and the transmission is an integral part of the drivetrain.

The Drivetrain and the Transmission

The drivetrain and the transmission are actually two very different concepts. The main function of the transmission is similar to the chain on a bicycle: it keeps the engine turning in time with the wheels, regardless of what gear the vehicle is in. The drivetrain represents everything that is behind the transmission involved in propelling the vehicle. The main function of the drivetrain is basically to convey power from the vehicle’s engine, through the transmission to the drive wheels on the vehicle to control the amount of torque. “Torque” is turning or twisting force.

Parts of a Drivetrain

The drivetrain is comprised of a collection of components in a vehicle that transfer power from the transmission to the wheels/ drive it forward. These components include the driveshaft, CV joints, the differential, the axle shafts and the U-joints.

  • A driveshaft is a long tube of steel that is linked to a car’s transmission at one end and the wheels at the other. It transfers the mechanical power from the transmission to the other components of the vehicle.
  • A U-joint, or universal joint, is a flexible pivot point that transmits power allowing for varying angles of the driveshaft.
  • CV joints, or constant-velocity joints, are part of the driveshaft. These joints are designed to be able to bend in any direction while continuing to turn the drive wheels at a constant velocity.
  • The differential is where the power makes its last stop before spinning the wheels (see ‘How Differentials Work’).
  • Axle shafts are a single rotating shaft, on either side of the differential, which delivers power from the final drive assembly to the drive wheels.

Driveline, Drivetrain, Powertrain

Technicians sometimes refer to driveline, drivetrain and powertrain interchangeably when referring to the drivetrain system of an automobile. This can cause confusion, but in essence, all of these terms describe the same system within the vehicle.

The powertrain in a vehicle is composed of everything that makes the vehicle move. This includes everything from the engine to the transmission to all the parts that allow the power from the engine to get to the wheels. A vehicle’s driveline consists of all of the powertrain’s components except for the engine.

The drivetrain is the part of a motorized vehicle which connects the engine and transmission to the wheel axles.

The driveline includes everything in the chain from the engine to the drive wheels, but the drivetrain consists of everything after the transmission — all driveshafts, axles, joints, differentials and wheels.

Mister Transmission technicians are all certified drivetrain and transmission specialists who service drivetrain and transmission issues in all modern vehicles.

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My previous mechanic at Fountain Tire said the rubber on my transmission mount was missing and I needed to pay $2200 to replace.Usually they send videos and photos to show what needs work, for this they didn’t so I questioned it.Good thing I did because the gentleman I dealt with at Mister transmission told me the rubber is there and all that needed to be done was screw in a loose bolt.My little Fiat stopped making all the clunking sounds as I drove back to work.No charge and was in and out in 15 mins. I am very happy to find them and will be recommending them to everyone I know.Thanks again guys 🫶🏼
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The guys at this Mr. Transmission are amazing. They squeaked me in JUST before my warranty was up, and they went above and beyond to make sure as much of my repair fit under the warranty. They set me up with a rental, and kept me updated the whole process. Both Joe and Cam replied to my questions promptly and were as helpful as one could hope for. Hopefully I won't NEED their services again for a long time, but if I do, I'm definitely coming back. Thanks again guys.
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Recently had my car serviced at Mr.Transmission Woodbridge and it was a pleasant experience. The team is very knowledgeable and was able to figure out the problem with my car and found a solution that made my car run even better than before. Customer service was good and even helped pay for a couple days for my rental car while waiting for a part because of shipping issues. Would recommend.
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I was referred to this location by another customer, who assured me they would be honest with me and do a great job. He was right! I dealt with Denise mostly and she was fabulous. Answered all our questions and really helped us to understand things better. So incredibly lovely and we wouldn’t hesitate to take our cars there in future. I would definitely send my friends and family there too!
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