Front Wheel Drive
Front Wheel Drive In front wheel drive both the engine and transmission system are assembled in one unit, which is mounted at the front of the vehicle. This arrangement provides the following advantages. (i) Compact construction is obtained. (ii) Flat floor of passenger compartment is possible in absence of propeller shaft tunnel or gearbox bulge. (iii) Good traction is provided as majority of weight is taken by the driving wheels. (iv) Engine can be mounted transversely so that either bonnet length is reduced or the size of the passenger compartment is increased. (v) Good steering stability is exhibited as driving thrust of the wheels is aimed in the direction that the vehicle is intended to follow. Also the layout rarely suffers from the oversteer characteristics. The front wheel drive vehicles require more complicated drive shafts, but in view of the many advantages the layout is very suitable for small cars. In the typical front wheel drive layout shown in Fig. 26.59, the transv