The drive axle transmits the torque from the propeller shaft to the driving wheels of the vehicle. In addition, it absorbs the vertical, longitudinal and transverse forces acting between the supporting surface and the frame or body of the vehicle.

The elastic suspension elements transmits the vertical (pushing and braking) and horizontal forces (during skidding) to drive axle;

Drive axle is usually a hollow beam, which include main gear, differential and wheels drive.

Drive axle can be both variant: rigid beam or split beam. Drive axle can be both variant: rigid beam or split beam. It depends from suspension variant, that can be depend or independent.

With dependent wheel suspension, the drive axle is a rigid beam that connects the wheels.

With independent suspension of wheels with swinging semi-axles, the beam of the driving axle make split.