How does a driveshaft work? What is a CV joint? Automotive systems explained!

As finely tuned pieces of modern automotive engineering, driveshafts, universal and CV joints play a very important role in the transfer of engine torque to the wheels. This module brings these systems to life with high-tech animations that show the operation of propeller-type drive shafts, as well as universal and constant velocity (CV) joints.

[RVMadness]

Very impressive breakdown of the driveshaft and CV joints! Thank you for condensing some elegant engineering into a concise, digestible format.

[michaelan]

Awesome! While the design is certainly very advanced, the animations and explanations made it very simple to follow! Thanks a lot for this

[johnrieley]

Fantastic overview with great narration and excellent graphics. Thanks from this former Detroiter.

[benbauer]

We sell these at my workplace and I've always wondered what they are for. Thanks!

[hasanal-ghanimi]

Hi autodata and congrats for this great education project you v just done with this greatest library of Automotive lessons .
I am still thinking to add my voice to the videos in Arabic to spread it middle east Arab countries

[joshuasoltysik]

this is perfect ! I'm currently taking my autotech lvl1 and this was very useful to learn and study off of keep them coming

[patrickmugenyu]

Wow.. you've really educated me.. been looking for this explanation for a very long time

[TheRealSakiller]

I just learned so much in such little time this dude is great

[vancouverman]

Excellent, well-presented and easy to understand.

[amandeepsinghsandhu]

Amazing explanations, Thank you for making it

[aleslenfeld]

Thank You very much, great understandable explanation!

[hormuzddaruwalla]

Fantastic animation... easy to understand ❤

[raw_pc]

Awesome explanation of different types of inner CV joints!

[prashanthhiremath]

It really helped me understand the motions inside, thank you

[Debraj]

Now I understand, why is it called constant velocity. Because, the Cardan joint is not constant and always changes the velocity during 1 complete rotation. So, for most application of cardan joint, we will see 2 of them on the shafts (with phasing), so that the effect of change of velocity (acceleration and deceration) can be negated with both joints.
Mechanical design is complex and filles with trigonometry and differential equations.

[samuelfrench]

Do some inner cv joints disengage by design when the join isn’t tensioned for some reason? It’s happening to my VW T4 and I’m not sure if it’s a broken joint or supposed to be like that. When I took it off it just spun on its own at the end of the axle until I pulled the end of the joint away from the axle to tension it which made it engage inside the joint and connect with the axle. Not sure if that makes sense.

[burnside]

Are drive shaft, propeller shaft and tail shaft the same thing?

[normanfeliciano]

I have a 2020 Hyundai Palisade with 44k kms. It does jerk every time I drive slowly from a complete stop and turning left or right. It does jug jug jug until it reaches a certain speed. It does not jerk if I accelarate hard or fast, but only happens when I step the gas smoothly. It is very noticeable when i am driving round from an underground parking. Dealrship cannot find the problem. Thanks

[jamesnightvisions]

What was the reason for not using a cv joint between the propeller shaft and the thail shaft instead of the universal joint ?

[uzielyisrael]

So could this be the problem with my 2000 honda crv its making a lot of vibrations at highway speed