What is a Drive Shaft?
The spinning bar that delivers engine power to your wheels.
Simplified animation — not to scale.
In plain English
A drive shaft (also called a driveshaft, prop shaft, or CV-jointed shaft on front-wheel-drive cars) carries rotational power from the gearbox or differential to the wheels that actually drive the car.
"It's the cable on a wind-up toy — turn the crank (engine) and the wheels at the other end spin."
How it works
The engine spins the gearbox; the gearbox spins the drive shaft; the drive shaft spins the wheel. On front-wheel-drive cars, two short shafts with flexible CV (Constant Velocity) joints at each end allow the wheels to steer and bounce over bumps while still receiving power. Rear- and four-wheel-drive cars use a longer "prop shaft" running down the middle of the car.
Signs of trouble
- ⚠Clicking or knocking noise when turning (often a worn CV joint)
- ⚠Vibration through the floor that gets worse with speed
- ⚠A clunk when pulling away or shifting between drive and reverse
- ⚠Grease splattered around the inside of a wheel (split CV boot)
£200–£500 fitted per side
Always get a written quote. Prices vary by car, region, and parts brand.