For the past century, most vehicles on the road had the engine sending power to the rear wheels. With this design, the rear wheels handle all of the power while the front wheels handle all the steering. Such mechanism is sensible for designers because one system would not interfere with the other. In theory, such design would provide better performance and handling. These days, this arrangement is becoming less common. However, you will still find many used rear wheel drive cars from Japan.
Rear Wheel Drive Explained
Rear wheel drive arrangement dominated vehicles built in the twentieth century for the following reasons:
- Due to the body-on-frame design, there is more space under the vehicle. The frame rails make it more practical to run a driveshaft under the car for power. A lot of modern vehicles do not have a body-on-frame design. Generally, they have a lighter unibody design and the center of gravity is lower.
- As we’ve mentioned, the rear wheels handle all of the power while the front wheels handle the steering. It goes without saying that it is more affordable to manufacture one and simpler to service.
- Since the engine is at the front of the vehicle, the driver and the passenger have something substantial in front of them in the event that the car collides with something head-on.
To ensure sharp and consistent handling, performance vehicles typically have a rear wheel design. When it comes to rear-mounted and mid-mounted engine vehicles, the power usually goes to the rear wheels. This saves weight and places the heavy engine over the driven wheels, providing better traction. As we’ve mentioned, rear-wheel-drive has been used for many decades. Over time, the technology has dramatically improved. In modern used rear wheel drive cars from Japan, you won’t often find problems like poor traction and over-steering in slick conditions.
Advantages of Using a Rear Wheel Drive Vehicle
More Balanced Weight
As we’ve mentioned, a lot of rear wheel drive vehicles have the engine in the front and the driving components in the back. Since the front and the rear of the vehicle are properly balanced, the handling, acceleration, braking, and safety of the car are much better.
Good Acceleration
Compared to front-drive cars, rear wheel drive cars have the ability to accelerate faster from a stop position. When you accelerate quickly, the weight of the car is transferred to its rear. Since extra weight is placed on the rear of the vehicle, the tires are essentially jammed into the road, providing increased traction. This is also the reason why some of the best city cars for racing have a rear-wheel drive design.
On the other hand, with front-drive cars, the weight is taken off the front wheels and transferred to the rear. As such, the front wheels lose traction, making them spin easily. This means that the car would slow down and even make it difficult for you to steer it. With rear drive vehicles, the front tires are still available for steering even when you’ve lost traction on the rear wheels.
No Torque Steer
One of the problems drivers experience with front-wheel drive vehicles is torque steer. This happens when the car steering gets affected by the acceleration of the engine. It is worth noting that the driveline is connected to the steering wheels. As such, the force coming from the torque of the engine is applied to the front wheels. This also means that the front wheels tend to pull to the right during acceleration.
Better Control and Driving Experience
Since the front-end of the vehicle is lighter, it is easier for the driver to corner. Consequently, the car feels more controllable and nimble. You wouldn’t also need strong springs to keep the front under control.
As you can see, many benefits come with using a rear wheel drive vehicle. If you want one, do not hesitate to contact Carused.jp today!
