What is a Drivetrain?

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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Mister Transmission Team

The Mister Transmission team consists of certified transmission specialists with decades of combined experience in diagnosing, repairing, and maintaining automatic and manual transmissions.

With over 60 years of service across Canada, our experts provide trusted, accurate, and up-to-date automotive advice to help drivers make informed decisions about their vehicles.

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Customer Reviews
I was having shuddering issues...
Teodoro Sigarra
I was having shuddering issues at low speeds and RPM fluctuations while driving on the highway. I took my car to the dealership, and even though it had only around 80,000 km, they said it was no longer under warranty. They told me the torque converter was the problem and quoted me about $3,000 for labor alone, plus a couple thousand more for parts. Thankfully, I decided to get a second opinion from Mister Transmission. They inspected my car for free, including a test drive and diagnosis, while the dealership wanted to charge me $200 just for diagnostics. After they serviced my car, it runs like new again no more shuddering and no more RPM fluctuations. The best part is that I paid less than $1,000, saving thousands of dollars. It was money well spent. I 100% recommend this place. They are honest, professional, and don't try to upsell unnecessary repairs. If you're having transmission issues, do yourself a favor and visit Mister Transmission before going to the dealership.
Date: June 10, 2026
Website: Google
I had a great experience...
Lyse Rauba
I had a great experience because of Gus... he's polite, friendly, knowledgeable and professional. Cost was reasonable considering the damage to the transmission. Highly recommend this location because of Gus and the staff. Very clean organized shop.
Date: June 10, 2026
Website: Google
I can't say enough on...
Kristin Stimers
I can't say enough on how pleased I am with the professionalism and competency of Dan and his staff. I've been burned before by shady mechanics and I can honestly say they are some of the best! Dan was polite and friendly from my first phone call, and he took the time to LISTEN to all my questions and answered them in a clear and kind way that helped me understand the problem. Not once did I feel like I was being rushed out of there. The problem (leaky transmission) was fixed in a timely manner and it was done well. He noticed another issue that was causing me problem (bad ball joints) but I never once felt like he was trying to "find" issues and upsell me. He solved this one as well and now my car sounds better than it did when I first purchased the vehicle used. I would definitely recommend Dan and his staff for not only transmission related issues but for all mechanical issues. The final bill was VERY reasonable. I'm so VERY happy that I found Dan at Mister Transmission. THANK YOU!!
Date: June 10, 2026
Website: Google
Very friendly and helpful, got...
Anabela Graca
Very friendly and helpful, got my issues resolved, everything we discussed was done and I’m now stress free. I would recommend this location to anyone who needs their car looked after
Date: June 9, 2026
Website: Google
These guys were Great. From...
Ray Cardozo
These guys were Great. From the intake team to the end customer service. They explained everything that I should expect. The end cost was a little above quoted, but everything was explained abd I was satisfied with the experience. Thanks Mr. T
Date: June 9, 2026
Website: Google
Was able to diagnose my...
Adam Sherry
Was able to diagnose my car promptly and have me back on the road very soon.
Date: June 9, 2026
Website: Google
I needed a transmission rebuild...
Jack Pickle
I needed a transmission rebuild on my Grand Marquis, everyone I spoke to was kind and informative and the service was faster and cheaper than what I was quoted at every other shop I looked at.
Date: June 9, 2026
Website: Google
I was redirected to Mister...
Jared R
I was redirected to Mister Transmission from another brand mechanic in town and I was really impressed with the service at Mister Transmission. Jenn had excellent communication with me throughout the whole process and was very accomodating. Once they did a full diagnostic on my car and were unable to find any major issues, they actually wound up not charging me anything for the diagnostic and road test after I thought it was going to cost me hundreds of dollars. They were very professional and friendly with me, so I recommend giving them a try and will be returning to them if I ever have transmission issues needing their specialized care.
Date: June 8, 2026
Website: Google
Had a great experience here...
Krishang
Had a great experience here with Kristen and her team. They were able to quickly diagnose and fix the issue with my car's transmission. Thank you !
Date: June 7, 2026
Website: Google
Lovely peeps
Keith Jones
Lovely peeps
Date: June 7, 2026
Website: Google
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