Drive shafts transmit torque from the engine, gearbox and differential to the front wheels. In the gearbox housing, the drive shafts are splined to the side gears of the differential. The splined tip of the internal hinge of the drive shaft in the side gear is fixed with a snap ring. When installed, the retaining ring is compressed, entering the groove of the shaft. After the shaft is fully installed in the differential side gear, the retaining ring is unclenched and fixes the splined tip from axial movement. The outer hinges of the drive shafts are attached to the front wheel hubs mounted on bearings. The shaft is fastened to the hub with a collar nut. To prevent loosening of the nut, the collar of the nut is bent into the recess of the drive shaft. The backlash between the hub and the drive shaft is eliminated by the location of the splines. The splines in the hub are straight and the splines on the shaft are slightly angled. Different spline designs provide a preloaded connection, i.e. a fixed fit that eliminates all adjustments.
Hinges of equal angular velocities (CV joints) mounted on both sides of the drive shaft. All outer CV joints are of the Birfield type, and the inner ones are of the tripoid or ball type. Tripoid type CV joints are used to prevent the transmission of engine vibrations through the drive shafts to the car body. CV joints are needed to transmit torque and compensate for the movement of the front suspension. Also, CV joints allow you to change the length of the drive shaft and transmit torque at constantly changing angles.