Copyright by Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
220 Manual Drive Trains and Axles
Clutch lever
3rd–4th
synchronizer
4th gear
3rd gear
Detent
spring
Selector shaft
2nd gear
Input shaft
1st gear
Flywheel
Clutch
pressure plate
Clutch
friction disc
Clutch pushrod
Release plate
Pinion gear
Ring gear
Differential
case
Shim
Right
drive flange
CV
axle (2)
Oil seal Side bearing
Transaxle
case
Left drive
flange
Shim
1st gear
1st–2nd
synchronizer and
reverse gear
2nd gear
3rd gear
4th gear
Output or
pinion shaft
Clutch release
bearing
Figure 10-30. A 4-speed transaxle used with transverse engines is shown here. This transaxle has a unique feature in the position
of the clutch release bearing. (Chrysler)
gears to connect the input shaft and clutch. This type of
transaxle uses hypoid ring and pinion gears.
Many of the manual transaxle transmission parts are
similar to those used in a manual transmission. Major
transmission shafts of the typical transaxle include an input
shaft and a countershaft that serves as the output shaft. The
differential pinion gear is on the end of the output shaft.
Synchronizers and shift forks operate just as they do in rear-
wheel drive transmissions.
All transaxles have a ring and pinion gearset. On
transaxles used with transverse engines, the ring and
pinion are straight-cut or helical gears. If the transaxle is
used with a longitudinal engine, the ring and pinion are
a hypoid set. The difference in the number of teeth in the
ring and pinion determines the final drive ratio.
The shift linkage consists of a series of links, levers, rods,
and sometimes, cables, which allow the driver to select
gears. Moving the floor-mounted lever allows the external
shift linkage to move shift rods and forks inside the transaxle
case. These rods and forks move the synchronizers.
The main stationary parts of the transaxle are the case
and covers. The case is made of cast aluminum. The case may
be a one-piece unit, or it may be designed to be split apart for
service. The covers are made of sheet metal or cast alumi-
num. They cover various operating parts of the transaxle
and are designed to be removed for transaxle service.