: Early Fords and Buicks were famous for using "closed drive" torque tube systems before open driveshafts became the industry standard. Maintenance & Common Issues
: Because the tube is rigid, it also helps locate the rear axle, often allowing for simpler rear suspension setups like those found in older Buicks or modern performance cars. Notable Vehicle Examples tube tranny
: The tube is bolted directly to the transmission at one end and the rear axle housing at the other. : Early Fords and Buicks were famous for
: When you accelerate, the rear axle tries to rotate in the opposite direction of the wheels. The torque tube resists this "twisting" force, transferring it directly to the vehicle's chassis through the transmission mounts. : When you accelerate, the rear axle tries
: These front-engine Porsches utilized a transaxle and torque tube for near-perfect 50/50 weight balance.
If you are working on a tube tranny setup, keep these points in mind:
Unlike a standard open driveshaft that uses universal joints to handle movement, a torque tube system houses the driveshaft inside a hollow steel tube.