Have you ever heard of a transaxle? Well, not too many drivers will get to know about it unless, of course, they have to repair or replace it. A transaxle is simply a single unit that houses both your car transmission and the axle assembly. Simple, right? Well, it’s much more complex mechanically.
The Transaxle combines the Transmission and axle functions and variable potentials like an independent suspension and a limited-slip differential. It is popular in Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) vehicles since it eliminates the need for a driveshaft setup, allowing the drive wheels to connect to the Transmission directly. This setup is ideal for a small engine bay.
Unlike your standard Transmission, the Transaxle comes with an axle integrated into the assembly, allowing for a smaller package. Therefore, instead of having a differential set at the back of the car, it is attached to the Transaxle, significantly simplifying the driveline.
Why would a Vehicle have a Transaxle?
With the rising popularity of the FWD car, the need for a transaxle design increased. This was mainly because the design eliminated the need for a driveshaft. It offered the wheels a chance to connect to the car’s Transmission directly. It is also a relatively compact design that fits well, especially in small engine bays.
What is the Difference between a Transaxle and a Transmission?
The engine setup of a vehicle determines whether it has a transmission or a transaxle. Most of the critical differences between a transmission and a transaxle overlap with the difference between longitudinally mounted engines.
The Transaxle
- The Transaxle is popular in a transverse engine layout.
- It has two output shafts that connect the drive wheel through a pair of half-shafts.
- It comes in a compact design.
- It mostly comes on automatic transmission systems but can also be found on CVT or Manual.
Transmission
- It comes in a longitudinal engine layout.
- Common in RWD vehicles.
- Connects to the rear axle through the driveshaft.
- Allows for a more extensive engine displacement setup.
- It can be either automatic, manual, or CVT.
- The separate rear differential allows for upgrades.
More notes on Transaxle
The transaxle design is not suitable for most modern cars. For starters, the added weight in the engine bay can be a problem, especially for an RWD vehicle’s performance.
Since there is less weight on the driven wheels, the car also experiences less traction. When you mount a transmission behind the engine, it forces more of the car’s weight towards the back.
If you are looking to improve your transmission power, there are better ways than having a transaxle. While transaxles can be powerful since they can handle powerful engines, they face engineering challenges due to their compact designs.
It’s rare to have a transaxle on a manual transmission vehicle. Transaxles are more prevalent in automatic and currently CVT options. If you are looking for a performance car with a manual transmission, it will most likely be a rear-wheel drive with a transmission, not a transaxle.
