How to Determine if Your Car Is Front or Rear Wheel Drive
Locate the engine., See how the engine is mounted., Look for a differential.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Locate the engine.
Most cars have the engine at the front; these cars may be either front- or rear-wheel drive.
Cars with the engine at the rear, such as the Volkswagen Beetle, are always rear-wheel drive cars. -
Step 2: See how the engine is mounted.
If the engine is transverse-mounted (that is, mounted sideways), with the belts facing one side of the car, your car is most likely a front-wheel drive car.
If the engine is mounted longitudinally (front to back), with the belts facing the front grille, your car is most likely a rear-wheel drive car. , The differential is a large, pumpkin-shaped housing that transfers power from the driveshaft to the wheels.
If there is such an assembly on the car's rear axle, the car has a rear-wheel drive.
On front-wheel drive cars, the differential is integrated with the transmission in a unit at the rear of the engine called a transaxle, and the wheels are connected to the driveshaft by constant velocity (CV) joints. -
Step 3: Look for a differential.
Detailed Guide
Most cars have the engine at the front; these cars may be either front- or rear-wheel drive.
Cars with the engine at the rear, such as the Volkswagen Beetle, are always rear-wheel drive cars.
If the engine is transverse-mounted (that is, mounted sideways), with the belts facing one side of the car, your car is most likely a front-wheel drive car.
If the engine is mounted longitudinally (front to back), with the belts facing the front grille, your car is most likely a rear-wheel drive car. , The differential is a large, pumpkin-shaped housing that transfers power from the driveshaft to the wheels.
If there is such an assembly on the car's rear axle, the car has a rear-wheel drive.
On front-wheel drive cars, the differential is integrated with the transmission in a unit at the rear of the engine called a transaxle, and the wheels are connected to the driveshaft by constant velocity (CV) joints.
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