Its purpose is to help in distributing the load on the rearof the vehicle to the two live axles that it connects.The three types of live axles that are used inautomotive and construction equipment are as follows:semifloating, three-quarter floating, and full floating.DRIVING WHEELSWheels attached to live axles are the driving wheels.Wheels attached to the outside of the driving wheelsmake up dual wheels. Dual wheels give more tractionto the driving wheels and distribute the weight of thevehicle over more surface. Consider dual wheels assingle wheels in describing vehicles.The number of wheels is sometimes used to identifyequipment; for example, a 4 by 2 could be a passengercar or a truck with four wheels, two of them driving. Ona 4 by 4 (fig. 2-18), power is delivered to the transfercase where it is divided between the front and rear axle,allowing all four wheels to drive. A 6 by 4 truck withdual wheels in the rear is identified by six wheels, fourof which drive. When a live axle is in front, the truckbecomes a 6 by 6 (fig. 2-19), in which all six wheelsdrive.Figure 2-19.—Six-wheeled drive transmission.2-13
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