Your vehicle's drive axle connects two wheels in the front and two in the back. A drive axle is powered by an engine and it is the central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. The main purpose of your car's drive axle is to transfer torque from the transmission to the wheels. A drive axle is a split axle between two half axles with differential and universal joints. Each half axle is connected to your car wheels by a constant velocity (CV) joint. The CV joint allows the wheels to move freely and keeps your car's body in balance. A drive axle in front-wheel drive cars facilitates steering.