You may occasionally hear the term “transaxle” used in place of “transmission” for your car or SUV. Is there a difference, and if so, what is it? Cowden's Automotive & Exhaust in Buhl is here to help.

In short, yes, they are two different things. Often, the word transaxle is replaced with transmission…it’s simply a word that’s been around longer, and since a transaxle does serve the purpose of a transmission, it’s an easy mistake to make. While using “transmission” as a blanket term isn’t particularly harmful, it is technically incorrect.

A transmission serves one purpose – transmitting engine power to the driveshaft, via an array of different gear ratios. Transmissions are also only found in rear-wheel-drive cars.

On front-wheel-drive cars, you find a transaxle. The transaxle serves the purpose of the transmission but also adopts the job of the differential, which is an entirely separate component on rear-wheel-drive vehicles. Since the axles that drive the wheels, or CV axles, are directly connected to the transaxle, a power-splitting differential system must be integrated to allow for power distribution to the wheels. Essentially, a transaxle is a transmission and a differential combined into one unit.

Whether your car, truck or SUV has a transaxle or a transmission, our technicians have you covered, for all your repair and maintenance needs. For the best transmission (and transaxle) service shop in Buhl, call or stop by Cowden's Automotive & Exhaust today.

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Thank you for visiting Cowden's Automotive & Exhaust in Buhl, ID. Count on our automotive repair technicians to keep your car, truck, suv, or van on the roads longer and safer.

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