final drive

noun

The final gear train between the transmission and the ground. In automotive and heavy equipment, this is the differential gear and axle assembly that turns the wheels or track sprockets.

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Meanings

nounfinal drive (plural final drives)

plural final drives

  1. machinery; industrial equipment; machinery; industrial equipmentThe final gear train between the transmission and the ground. In automotive and heavy equipment, this is the differential gear and axle assembly that turns the wheels or track sprockets.

    Final drive is by reduction gears on the jackshaft, and through flycranks and rods to the wheels.

    1950 October, “S.R. Diesel-Mechanical Shunter”, in Railway Magazine, page 692
    1 more example

    A universal joint shaft takes the drive to the final drive unit mounted centrally on one of the axles.

    1958 April 28, “Diesel Railbus for British Railways”, in Railway Magazine, page 275
Cite this entry
APA

final drive. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/final%20drive

MLA

“final drive.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/final%20drive. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “final drive,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/final%20drive.

Source: final drive on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.