Book Title: eTextbook: Today’s Technician: Manual Transmissions &
Transaxles
Chapter 6. Drive Shafts and Universal Joints
Review Questions
Review Questions
Short Answer Essays
1. State the purposes of a Universal joint.
2. What methods are used by some auto manufacturers to reduce drive
shaft torsional vibration problems?
3. What determines the operating angle of a Universal joint?
4. Explain why and when U-joints vibrate.
5. What effect do in-phase Universal joints have on the operation of a
drive shaft?
6. What is meant by canceling angles?
7. Describe the construction and operation of a single Cardan joint.
8. Describe the construction and operation of a double Cardan joint.
9. Why are some cars and trucks equipped with a two-piece drive shaft?
10. What methods are used to retain a U-joint in its yoke?
Fill-in-the-Blanks
1. A drive shaft is normally made from tubing
with fastened to each end.
2. A drive shaft is actually an extension of the transmission’s
.
3. on the drive shaft provide a means of
connecting the shafts together.
4. are welded to the outside of a drive shaft to
it and reduce its natural .
5. A slip joint is normally fitted to the .
6. A Hotchkiss drive system has an external with
at least Universal joints.
7. A is made up of a small-diameter solid shaft
enclosed in a larger steel tube and is rigidly connected to the
transmission and the rear axle assembly.
8. There are three common designs of Universal joints:
retained by either an inside or outside snap
ring, , and held in the yoke
by U-bolts or lock plates.
9. U-joints may be retained in the drive shaft by ,
or .
10. The basic styles of Cardan joints are and
.
11. The type of drive shaft with an input shaft bonded with rubber to the
inside of a hollow drive shaft is a .
ASE-Style Review Questions
1. When discussing drive shaft design,
Technician A says that the shorter the shaft is, the less likely it
is to become out of balance.
Technician B says that rubber inserts may be inserted into a
tube-in-tube shaft to dampen the vibrations of the shaft.
Who is correct?
A. A only
B. B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
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2. When discussing the Hotchkiss design of drive shaft,
Technician A says that it consists of a small-diameter solid
shaft enclosed in a larger tube.
Technician B says that it has a Universal joint attached to each
end of the shaft.
Who is correct?
A. A only
B. B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
158
3. When discussing the phasing of Universal joints,
Technician A says that this allows the speed changes at one U-
joint to be canceled by the other U-joint.
Technician B says that this means that both U-joints are
positioned at opposite angles to each other.
Who is correct?
A. A only
B. B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
4. When discussing the different types of Universal joints,
Technician A says that the most commonly used type uses
bushings instead of needle bearings inside the U-joint caps.
Technician B says that the double Cardan type consists of two
U-joints connected by a coupling yoke.
Who is correct?
A. A only
B. B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
5. When discussing slip joints,
Technician A says that they allow the drive shaft to change its
effective length as the suspension goes through jounce and
rebound.
Technician B says that they are normally found at both ends of
a Hotchkiss-style drive shaft.
Who is correct?
A. A only
B. B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
6. When discussing the different types of drive shafts that have been
used to reduce vibrations,
Technician A says that the flexible rope design is the most
commonly used.
Technician B says that the tube-in-tube design is not fitted
with Universal joints.
Who is correct?
A. A only
B. B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
7. When discussing Universal joint speed fluctuations,
Technician A says that Universal joint speed fluctuations can
be canceled if the driven yoke has the same plane of rotation
as the driving yoke.
Technician B says that Universal joint speed fluctuations can
be canceled by putting the joints in-phase.
Who is correct?
A. A only
B. B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
8. When discussing slip joints,
Technician A says that the yoke normally has external splines.
Technician B says that the slip yoke is normally held in place
on the transmission’s output shaft by a snap ring.
Who is correct?
A. A only
B. B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
9. When discussing the cause of drive shaft vibration,
Technician A says that excessive joint operating angles can
cause an increase in drive shaft vibration.
Technician B says that a two-piece drive shaft that is
assembled out of phase can cause an increase in shaft
vibration.
Who is correct?
A. A only
B. B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
10. While discussing Universal joints,
Technician A says the joint consists of two Y-shaped yokes plus
a cross-shaped unit called the cross or spider.
Technician B says the single Cardan Universal joint assembly
has four machined trunnions equally spaced around the
center of the axis.
Who is correct?
A. A only
B. B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
