How do you know if your vehicle is front wheel drive or rear wheel drive?
On the surface, this might sound like a silly question. Everybody knows whether or not their vehicle is front wheel drive or rear wheel drive, right? Not so fast.
To prove a point, we asked several of our friends and family if they knew whether or not their car was a front wheel drive or a rear wheel drive car. Of the twenty or so people asked, twelve didn’t know, (and we might add, most didn’t particularly care). However, it is an important fact to know.
A few of the selected participants in our informal survey drive vehicles such as a 2013 Hyundai Elantra (FWD), a 2001 BMW 325 (RWD), a 2008 BMW 525i (RWD), a 2008 Mercedes e350 (RWD), a 2010 Honda Accord (FWD) and a 2015 Toyota Corolla (FWD). None of these participants knew if their vehicle was front wheel drive or rear wheel drive. Not scientific by any means, but, here’s the million dollar question: do you know if your vehicle is front wheel drive or rear wheel drive? Keep reading and we’ll tell you how to determine the answer.
Is this knowledge important to the everyday driver? The answer is yes. Basic knowledge of your vehicle’s operation is important particularly if/ when you ever have a problem arise. A roaring in the backend of a rear wheel drive vehicle might indicate a universal joint going bad. A roaring in the back end of a front wheel drive car cannot be a universal joint because there isn’t one there.
A clicking noise in the front end of a front wheel drive vehicle while turning might indicate that a constant velocity (CV) joint is going bad. A clicking noise in the front end of a rear wheel drive vehicle cannot be a CV joint because rear wheel drive cars do not have CV joints. See the possible issues?
So how do you know if your vehicle is a front wheel drive vehicle or a rear wheel drive vehicle? The easiest way to is to Google it. You might even ask a friend or relative.
You can also inspect your vehicle very quickly and make the determination. Here’s a hint: most small and medium size cars built in the last 20 years by makers such as Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Ford, Chevy, etc. are going to be front wheel drive cars. Virtually all trucks and SUVs are rear wheel drive vehicles and some are even four-wheel drive. Older (and bigger) model vehicles such as the Chevrolet Caprice, Ford LTD, etc. are going to be rear wheel drive cars.
A Simple Way To Know If Your Vehicle is Front Wheel Drive
Here’s how to check. If you open the hood of your car, and the engine is mounted sideways (transversely), you have a front wheel drive car.
Another simple way to determine if you have a front wheel drive car or a rear wheel drive car might cause you to get a bit of dirt on your clothes. You can simply lie down on the ground and look underneath your vehicle. If there is a long, pole-like shaft (drive shaft) running from the back of the engine area to the rear wheels, you have a rear wheel drive vehicle. If there is no drive shaft running the length of the vehicle, you have a front wheel drive car.
Or, you can just Google it!
If you have questions about your vehicle and its performance, give Postle Tire Barn a call. Postle Tire Barn has been serving Tuscaloosa and the West Alabama area for more than 35 years. Our award winning team excels in home-town customer service. Our motto says it all: Great Prices and No Bull.
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