Propeller shaft and viscous coupling arrangement in a four wheel drive vehicle

摘要

A four wheel drive mechanism for a motor vehicle has a driveline extending from the prime mover for permanently driven front wheels to a rear axle differential. The driveline includes two propeller shaft portions interconnected by a universal joint (15) and having a viscous coupling (14) in one of said shaft portions. A solid journal (30) extends from the hub part (28) of the viscous coupling to provide a mounting for a yoke part (50) of the universal joint. The driveline is suspended relative to the underfloor (43) of the vehicle by a roller bearing assembly (13) around the journal adjacent the viscous coupling and being located between the viscous coupling (14) and the universal joint (15).