Automatic Transmissions and Transaxles, Fourth Edition

By Tom Birch and Chuck Rockwood

2010 Pearson Higher Education, Inc.

Pearson Prentice Hall - Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

OBJECTIVES

After studying Chapter 10, the reader should be able to:

1. Describe some of the transmissions used in

domestic vehicles.

2. Describe some of the transmissions used in the

more popular import vehicles.

3. Explain the operation of a particular transmission.

4. Identify which transmission is used in a particular

vehicle.

5. Identify a particular transmission.

Automatic Transmissions and Transaxles, Fourth Edition

By Tom Birch and Chuck Rockwood

2010 Pearson Higher Education, Inc.

Pearson Prentice Hall - Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

INTRODUCTION

In the following sections, we will briefly describe the more common transmission and transaxles.

They will be described by manufacturer and cross-referenced by the gear train types described in

Chapter 5.

A particular transmission design may have many small differences.

In any single year, there may be many versions of the same transmission depending on the

application.

Automatic Transmissions and Transaxles, Fourth Edition

By Tom Birch and Chuck Rockwood

2010 Pearson Higher Education, Inc.

Pearson Prentice Hall - Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

INTRODUCTION

Transaxles

A transaxle is a combination of a transmission, either

standard or automatic, and a

final drive assembly.

FIGURE 10-1 When a vehicle is driving straight, the

differential gears rotate as a unit; equal load keeps the

pinion gears stationary on the mate shaft (a). An

unequal load causes the pinion gears to rotate on the

mate shaft so one axle can turn faster than the other

(b). (Courtesy of Chrysler Corporation)

Automatic Transmissions and Transaxles, Fourth Edition

By Tom Birch and Chuck Rockwood

2010 Pearson Higher Education, Inc.

Pearson Prentice Hall - Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

INTRODUCTION

There are essentially four types of final drive and differential combinations used in transaxles:

The first type uses helical gears and an intermediate/idler gear or shaft to transfer power from the transmission planetary gear

assembly to the differential case

The second type uses a planetary gearset mounted to the output of the transmission gearset for the final drive reduction gears

The third type uses a planetary gear final drive that is driven by a chain and sprockets from the transmission section

Some FWD vehicles use an engine mounted lengthwise in the vehicle so the crankshaft and the transaxle shafts run longitudinal

(fore and aft) instead of transverse or lateral (side to side) relative to

the vehicle.