Cars utilize dozens of interconnected systems to propel their weight forward. One of these vital systems is your vehicle’s transmission, part of which is the all-important transfer case. Here is why understanding how a transfer case works impacts your car’s health.
What Is a Transfer Case?
Without the transfer case, the transmission would just spin in place. In multiple powered axle vehicles—typically four-wheel and all-wheel-drives—the transfer case is the piece that actually makes the wheels turn. It transfers the geared power from the transmission to the front and rear axles, which turns the wheels and moving the vehicle.
How Does It Work?
The transfer case lives between the transmission and the axle differentials. On multiple axle vehicles, the transfer case changes where the power goes—either to two or four axles. When the energy comes from the transmission, the driveshafts move the torque to the front and rear differentials.
The driveshaft is a long pole with a U-joint that moves in all degrees of motion, enabling the energy to shift in all directions. The differentials then receive this angular energy and move the wheels at different speeds. Once the power reaches the differentials, it’s up to the wheels to make the motion happen.
Why Does This Matter?
Knowing about your transfer case equips car enthusiasts and commuter drivers alike to keep up with maintenance. If you avoid tending to your transfer case, you could encounter problems with your transmission or differential. The last thing you want is to spend your time guessing what to do rather than fixing the issue. Since the transfer case is such an integral part of off-roading and four-wheel-drive operations, you should be conscious of how you use it.
Understanding how a transfer case works helps you navigate problems and troubleshoot solutions. If you notice unusual happenings under your car or hear unnatural grinding sounds, have a professional take a look. This way, you can outfit your vehicle with the proper transfer case components to get it up and running again.
