Free Car Repair Advice by Professional Mechanics
How Does it Work /
Gears
How Gears Work
All vehicles have gears, where they are located and how they interact varies
depending upon the application. A gear set allows the movement of rotational pieces
from one particular axis to another. By gears turning and connecting to each other
it allows energy and movement from one gear to another. This means it is possible
to use gears to transfer energy to any desired axis.
Differential Gear Set
Another reason gears are used is to help either decrease or increase the speed
of rotation. For example, taking a large diameter gear and using it in conjunction
with a small diameter gear will speed up the rotation, while in reverse using a
small gear in conjunction with a large gear will slow the rotation down. Gears are
often used as a method of changing the direction of the rotation. Through a series
of gears, it is possible to take a counter clockwise rotation and change it into
a clockwise rotation without any loss of power or rotation speed.
The way in which the gears work together based upon their size is called gear
ratio. This ratio is determined based upon counting the number of teeth on the gear.
For example, if one gear has 20 teeth and the gear it is connected to has 40 teeth
then the gear ratio is 20 to 40 which is also written as 2:1. These numbers are
purely for example purposes only and will vary in actual usage depending upon the
size of the actual gears being used.
Transmission Planetary Gear Set
One of the largest gear sets inside of your vehicle is the
transmission.
Automatic transmissions make specific noises when a malfunction is occurring. An
automatic transmission is a hydraulic pressure driven system that can make different
noises than a manual transmission. If the transmission filter becomes plugged do
to debris in the transmission, it can make a whining noise. If the fluid level is
low it can cause a gurgling sound, this sound is due to the pump scavenging for fluid inside
the transmission pan. Most internal failures are due to bearing, clutch or hard part
failure. When such a failure has occurred the transmission can make grinding, worrring
or no noise at all. When a transmission has a major failure you might hear a loud
pop, this could be a drive component inside the transmission has failed causing
the vehicle to stop moving.
Maintenance
Inspect fluid levels to protect gears, to have clean, debris free fluid while
using high quality oil. Ensuring that these fluids are full as well as changed in
accordance with your maintenance schedule is the single best maintenance you can
do.
How
Does it Work /
Gears
Check Manufacturer Specific Gear
Questions and Answers
Related Subjects
Got a Car Repair Question
we will answer it for FREE!
GET A
REPAIR MANUAL
FOR YOUR CAR. Get instant access to your vehicles drive belt routing, wiring
diagrams, trouble code information and other available updates and factory bulletins.
| 
