Rear wheel drive and front wheel drive

[angel21]

I used to have a rear wheel drive car. Does this mean only the back wheels turn when you steer?

[R1Geezer]

not unless it's a dumper truck! Seriously are you taking the pi55?

any proper car is rear wheel drive and front wheel steering.

[johntywino]

Most modern cars are front wheel drive. Older cars were rear wheel drive with what was called a "Propeller" or "Prop" shaft going from the engine area to the "Differential" then to each rear wheel. If one rear wheel was on ice and spun round, the other rear wheel could be stationary, and when driving BOTH wheels would be driving the car... Hope this helps!

[R1Geezer]

"most modern cars are front wheel drive" --- errr no!

Most modern heaps of mass produced sh1te are front wheel drive so that they are cheaper. It does cost more to create a rear wheel drive car that's why prestige cars are usually RWD. For example there are no FWD Beemers!

[angel21]

I used to have an old volvo rear wheel drive

[jake-the-peg]

Actually most proper cars are four wheel drive as you'll have found out this week Geezer ;c)

Seriously angel - all cars steer from the front - front wheel drive cars are propelled by the front wheels rear wheel drive from the back.

They have different characteristics when driven fast around bends - which is why geezer is being so snobby about front wheel drive cars - after all everybody drives fast around bends don't they?

Rear wheel drive cars also tend to have a ridge running through the inside of the car so that the power can be taken to the rear wheels from the engine in the front so making say a people carrier or a van in rear wheel drive would be awkward

[Brooksy]

The problem with rear wheel steering is that you can get stuck if parked close to a kerb or wall. The Daimler Dingo scout car had it & a few years back I recall a Japanese co. producing one with 4 wheel steering but the rear wheels only turned very slightly & above a certain speed to avoid the afore mentioned problem.

[R1Geezer]

fair enough jake, but the main reason is that you can't really put much power into a FWD car, max about 200bhp, the torque steer just becomes a nuisance, especially for the inexperienced.

[eltelioni]

rear wheel drive is a pig on the snow and ice!

[john1hancock]

Hi Angel., rear weel drive means the car is propelled along by the rear wheels. Front wheel drive means the car is propelled by the front wheels, John

[angel21]

Thanks everyone! x

[Disco Fever]

My 2 and a half tonne Transit van is rear wheel drive and ive never had so much fun in the snow and ice and I only got stuck once when I decided to do a handbrake turn and the van got stuck on the built up snow....