Which component links the transmission to the drive wheels in both rear-wheel-drive and front-wheel-drive configurations?

• A. Driveshaft
• B. Axle Shaft
• C. Differential
• D. Prop Shaft

Answer: (A)

The driveshaft is the component that carries power from the transmission to the drive wheels. In rear-wheel-drive cars, it’s the long shaft that connects the transmission output to the differential, which then delivers torque to the rear axles and wheels. In front-wheel-drive cars, the engine and transmission are paired in a transaxle at the front, and power reaches the front wheels through axle shafts from that transaxle; the idea of a shaft transmitting torque from the transmission to the driving wheels still applies, even though the physical arrangement differs. The term driveshaft (also called a prop shaft) captures the concept of a shaft transmitting power from the transmitting unit to the drive system, which is why it’s the best answer here.