The vehicle Layout

The basic components of the motor vehicle are Power Unit (Engine),
Transmission System, Steering System, Braking system, Suspension
System, Chassis and Body, Electrical System and Wheels and Tires.
Front Engine Front Wheel Drive Layout
 Power Unit (Engine)
The engine is the source of the power which drives the vehicle.
Types of Engine are;
(i) The External Combustion (EC) engine (Steam Engine)
(ii) The Internal Combustion (IC) engine
An External Combustion Engine is a heat engine where an
(internal) working fluid is heated by combustion of an external
source.
An Internal Combustion engine is a heat engine where the
combustion of the air-fuel mixture occurs inside the combustion
chamber that produces high temperature and pressure.
Power Unit (Engine)
 The Transmission system
The transmission system covers the complete
driveline between the engine and road wheel.
The purpose of this system is to transmit the drive
from the engine to the roads wheels.
Transmission System consist of
Clutch
Gearbox
Propeller shaft/Driving shaft
Real assemble driving/front assemble driving
The Transmission system
 Clutch system
Clutch. This is the coupling which connects and
disconnects the engine torque to the gearbox.
 Gear Box
Gear box: This consist of set of gears that
amplify the output given by the engine to enable
the driving force at the road wheels.
The function of the gearbox to enable the
vehicle to be driven at different speed and to
provide means of driving the vehicle backwards.
These are two main types of gear box, Manual
Gearbox and Automatic Gearbox
Types of manual gear box
Types of manual gear box
1. Sliding mesh gear box
2. Constant mesh gearbox
3. Synchromesh gear box
The propeller shaft
The propeller shaft. A tubular steel shaft that transmits
the drive. This used on the front engine real wheel drive.
Types of common propeller shaft
1. Hotchkiss drive
2. Torque tube drive
On a vehicle having the Hotchkiss drive layout, the
propeller shaft is fitted with a pair of universal joints
and a sliding joint to allow for relative movement
between the gearbox and the final drive
Hotchkiss Drive and Torque Tube Drive

Torque Tube Drive

 Exile Assembly
This includes;
(a) Final drive and differential.
The function of final drive is to turns the drive through 90◦
and to provide permanent reduction gearing to increase the
torque available.
The purpose of the differential is to allow the driving wheels
to be driven at different speeds but with equal torque when
cornering
(b) Exile shaft. Axle shaft used to transmit the drive from the
final drive to the road wheels
Differential Unit
Differential Unit
Steering system
The aim of steering system to enable the driver to control the
path taken by taking by the vehicle
Braking system
The purpose of the brake system to stop the vehicle while on motion and
control the speed of the vehicle.
Three types of braking system
1. Mechanical Braking System
2. Hydraulic Braking System
3. Pneumatic Braking System
 Suspension System
The basic purpose of a suspension system is to isolate the vehicle’s body from
uneven road surface by absorbed the road shocks.
Two types of suspension system
1. Independent suspension
2. Non independent (rigid suspension)
 Electrical System
This system include
(i) Battery. Battery use to provide electrical power to all the vehicle
components which are electrical operated when the engine is not running
(ii) Starting System. This system use an electrical motor specifically design to
turn over an engine for starting of the engine
(iii)Ignition System. The purpose of the ignition system to provide a suitable
spark inside the cylinder at proper time
(iv) Charging System. This system use dynamo or alternator to produce
electric to supply to the various circuit and for the charging the vehicle
battery
(v) Lighting system. This system enables the driver to drive when dark
(vi) Auxiliary system. This additional circuit for car entertainment such as
power windows radio etc
 Chassis and body
(i) Chassis. The assembled vehicle without the body
was called a chassis which include engine,
transmission system suspension system etc. and
the frame alone is the chassis frame.
(ii) Body. The main purpose of the bodywork is to
provide accommodation for the driver and
passengers with suitable protection against wind
and weather. The degrees of comfort provided
will naturally depend upon the type of car and it
cost.
Chassis and body
Chassis
Frame
The Engine Arrangement
This internal combustion engine can be position at
1. Front engine layout
2. Real engine
3. Central and mid-engine
4. Mid engine
Front engine layout
There are a number of reasons of sitting engine at the front
of car. The front engine of the car a car gives the driver
protection in the event of a head on collision.
The engine cooling is simpler to arrange in addition the
cornering ability of a vehicle is normally better if the weight
is concentrated at the front
The Engine Arrangement
Real engine. By placing the engine at the rear of the vehicle it
can made as a unit that incorporates the clutch gearbox and final
drive assembly also the real engine layout increases the load on
the rear on the rear driving wheels giving them better grip of the
rod.
Central engine. These engine situations generally apply to
sports cars because the engine sitting gives a load distribution
that achieves both good handling and maximum traction from the
driving wheels.
Mid engine. The mid engine layout combines the engine and
transmission components in one unit. The term mid-engine is
used because the engine is mounted in front of the rear axle line.
Drive Arrangements
The car driven by one of the following
arrangement
1. Front engine-rear wheel drive
2. Rear engine rear wheel drive
3. Front engine front wheel drive
4. Four wheel drive
Front engine-rear wheel drive
Advantages
(i) Engine can be easily attended maintenance
(ii) Radiator is situated in main air stream and minimize long correction
(iii) Linkage to clutch gear box and engine are short
Real engine rear wheel drive
Advantages
(i) no propeller shaft needed
(ii) noise heat and fumes are carried away from passengers
(iii) increased weight on driving wheel gives better road adhesion
Disadvantages
(i) At high speeds the vehicle tends to be unstable
(ii) Long linkages are needed to control the engine clutch and gearbox
(iii) There is a tendency of oversteer
Front engine front wheel drive
Advantages
(i) Car travels faster and safer than rear wheel driven car due to
good road holding a curves
(ii) There is a tendency of understeer
(iii) Good road adhesion is achieved
(iv) Having no propeller shaft allows for a lower flat floor which
brings down the center of gravity
Disadvantages
Loss in the tractive effort occurs on steep on steep gradients and
when acceleration due to reduction in weight on the driving
wheels
Front engine front wheel drive
Four Wheel Drive
This arrangement is safer than all types because it distributes the drive to all four
wheels. The sharing of the load between the four wheels during acceleration reduces
the risks of wheel spin.
Drive Arrangements