PIONEER in the development of front-wheel-drive technologies in
Japan 40 years ago, Subaru has evolved and extended those
technologies to its present symmetrical all-wheel-drive systems.
The axle shaft is an example of a system component that is
critical to a vehicles operation, yet given little thought by
most drivers. The front axle shafts transmit torque from the
transmission and differential gears to the wheels and tires.
Since steering and driving are among the functions of the front
tires on FWD and AWD vehicles, increased performance and
durability are expected of the axle shafts. So their development
and engineering can be difficult. The front wheel axle shaft
system is no longer unique to Subaru, explains Atsuyoshi
Nishizawa, the engineer in charge of axle shaft technology in
Subaru Engineering Division. Of course, their components are not
all the same, and Subaru axle shafts are packed with plenty of
unique technologies. The axle shafts often referred to as
halfshafts are located on both sides of th