How to Identify Front-Wheel Drive and Rear-Wheel Drive Vehicles?

[AmeliaFitz]

Methods to identify front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive vehicles: You need to squat down and check if there is a differential on the rear axle. If there is no differential on the rear axle, it is a front-wheel drive vehicle; if there is a differential on the rear axle, it could be either a rear-wheel drive or a four-wheel drive vehicle. If the front wheels have half-shafts, it is a four-wheel drive vehicle; if the front wheels do not have half-shafts, it is a rear-wheel drive vehicle. Most front-wheel drive vehicles have a transversely mounted engine, while most rear-wheel drive vehicles have a longitudinally mounted engine. In vehicles with a transversely mounted engine, the transmission is also mounted transversely, which means most of the weight is concentrated at the front of the car, making front-wheel drive vehicles more prone to understeer. In vehicles with a longitudinally mounted engine, both the engine and the transmission are mounted longitudinally.