This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Truck drivestrains are one of the most essential and underappreciated components in vehicles, having an enormous effect on performance, fuel economy and maintainability. Their specifications can have significant effects on all three areas.
ArvinMeritor officials believe it’s essential to use all components of a truck’s drivetrain appropriately from its inception in order to maximize performance, such as its engine, transmission, axles and wheels. ArvinMeritor officials advise selecting appropriate specifications from the outset in order to maximize truck performance.
Engine
An engine is an integral component of any truck’s drivetrain, providing power that drivers need to propel their vehicles and providing stopping power for safety measures.
There are various kinds of engines, all working to convert fuel into mechanical energy in similar ways. They can be distinguished according to work cycles, number of cylinders, crankshaft angles and types of ignition as well as fuel specifications.
Modern cars and trucks typically employ internal combustion engines that use fuel to ignite an explosion that drives pistons back and forth inside their cylinders, moving pistons up and down along a rail system. These engines also contain valves and other components necessary for combustion processes to work smoothly.
The engine is an integral component of truck drivetrain systems, providing mechanical power necessary for driving and also controlling emissions. Modern engines use gasoline or diesel fuel as sources for power production to meet various driving needs and produce adequate amounts of torque in various driving environments.
Crankshafts are among the most crucial components of truck engines, rotating three times with every fuel burn to turn pistons.
An essential component of any truck engine is oil. This liquid keeps the engine clean and prevents corrosion that could otherwise lead to serious engine problems and costly repairs.
Good oil lasts longer, so truck operators should comply with their engine and transmission maintenance schedule to extend its longevity and improve fuel economy. A properly maintained engine can result in increased performance as well as reduced costs over time.
An efficient truck drivetrain allows your vehicle to move smoothly and safely through traffic, especially on treacherous surfaces such as ice and snow.
Transmission
Transmissions serve as the intermediary between your engine and driving wheels of your truck, regulating speed and power transference to them. Like a bicycle gear system, transmissions can adjust to various situations like climbing uphill.
Transmissions allow you to modify the ratio between engine power and driving wheels so you have enough power for climbing hills or managing low-speed maneuvers, with greater or reduced power depending on what’s required at that moment. They’re a key part of truck drivestrains and help maximize engine output.
Commercial vehicle transmissions feature high torque-to-weight ratios and efficient direct drive and overdrive options that maximize fuel economy. Vocational models are tailored specifically for most applications by accommodating most application conditions, axle ratio specifications and engine specifications.
Assembling the ideal transmission for any application is essential for fulfilling fleet needs and ensuring drivers can complete their jobs safely. Understanding an application fully may also reduce Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) while improving fuel efficiency.
Rear axle ratio should be taken into account when specifying a transmission. Direct drive transmissions often have lower numerical ratios while overdrive models typically feature higher numerical axle ratios.
Reducing parasitic losses in transmissions is also key. These losses occur when rotating components churn oil, creating energy losses. Reducing churning will help minimize this loss and improve transmission efficiency and fuel economy while simultaneously increasing vehicle economy.
Recently introduced transmissions feature off-axis dual displacement or variable displacement vane pumps that operate with lower speed ranges than traditional pumps to minimize overall pump size and parasitic losses.
Differential
The differential is an integral component of your truck drivetrain that connects to your drive shaft and directs power to each wheel on an axle – front wheels in FWD vehicles and rear wheels for RWD ones, or all four on vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive (AWD).
Differentials are an essential component in your car, truck or SUV as they allow its wheels to turn at different speeds when taking turns – helping prevent issues like uneven tire wear, poor handling and drivetrain binding.
A typical differential features a ring gear which rotates within a series of gears connected to drive shafts, each gear featuring its own set of teeth attached to an input pinion that rotates it; the ratio between this input pinion and ring gear is called its final drive ratio or RDR.
If the RDR is high, more of the engine’s torque will be directed toward the outside wheels to improve handling; conversely if it drops below threshold levels more power will flow to the inside wheels and cause increased drag.
Torque-vectoring differentials, which use multiple gear trains to finely adjust how much torque each wheel receives, may also be available, though this form of system tends to be more costly and less popular than open differentials; nevertheless, they can help enhance handling capabilities.
Locked differentials may also provide extra traction for the outside wheel when turning, typically found on full-size trucks and Jeep Wranglers as well as some pricier sports models. To ensure optimal performance it is wise to have your differential fluid professionally changed every 30,000 miles by an experienced technician.
Axle
Trucks are capable of towing massive loads, so it’s essential that they have an axle capable of supporting that weight. Axles serve an integral function in drivetrain systems transferring power from engine to wheels – and can be found both front and rear on heavy trucks.
Axles are essential parts of a truck drivetrain because they support its weight while also aiding with steering, shock absorption and maintaining space between wheels. Axles come in various shapes and sizes; all have similar functions.
There are various kinds of axles, such as dead, live and stub. Most axles are constructed from carbon steel or nickel steel for strength when being used on trucks.
The front axle of a vehicle serves two primary purposes: it assists with steering and smooths out bumpy road surfaces while processing bumps that occur over uneven terrain. It consists of four major parts: beam, swivel pin, tie rod and stub axle.
Rear Axles: The rear axle provides power to the driving wheels and typically consists of two half shafts connected by a differential. Most live rear axles also rotate along with their vehicle.
The axle ratio, or number of revolutions it takes to turn your driveline once, plays an essential role in determining how much power an engine produces and how quickly your truck moves down the road. A higher axle ratio increases power but may reduce fuel efficiency.
Wheels
Wheels are one of the key components of a truck drivetrain, converting engine power to motion by creating friction between tire treads and pavement. Furthermore, wheels provide vehicle stability control and enable effortless driving maneuverability.
Wheels come in various sizes and styles, yet all contain the same basic parts: outboard face, center bore, plate, spokes, rim bolt circle and valve stem bore.
Wheels can be constructed using different types of materials, including steel or aluminum alloy alloys. Selecting the most appropriate material will determine several aspects such as cost, strength, weight and durability.
Additionally, the type of material a wheel is made from can have an impact on its rolling resistance. Rolling resistance refers to any additional energy lost through acceleration and deceleration as well as driving on rough or uneven terrain.
Steel or aluminum alloy wheels are among the most widely-used wheels, providing a great combination of strength, durability, and cost efficiency.
Carbon fiber and magnesium wheels can also provide superior heat dissipation and vehicle performance benefits, making them more expensive to produce than steel or aluminum wheels but lighter and providing improved heat dissipation.
Wheel fabrication methods vary, including forging and die-casting. Forged wheels use a mold or crucible capable of withstanding high heat; this technique produces stronger and more durable wheels than die-cast alloys but comes at a greater expense.