In a rear-wheel-drive-based system, the driveshaft transfers torque to which component?

In a rear-wheel-drive system, the driveshaft is responsible for transferring torque from the transmission to the axle differential. The axle differential, often referred to simply as the rear differential, plays a crucial role in distributing the power received from the driveshaft to the rear wheels.

When the engine generates power, the transmission converts that power and sends it through the driveshaft. The driveshaft then spins the axle differential, which enables the rotation necessary for the rear wheels to propel the vehicle forward. This setup is particularly common in many SUV and truck models, including certain Jeep configurations.

While components like the front differential and power transfer unit are crucial in four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive systems, they are not involved in the torque transfer process specifically in a rear-wheel-drive configuration. The transmission is also a pivotal component in the power transfer process, but its role is earlier in the system, primarily concerned with modifying engine output before it reaches the driveshaft. Thus, the correct answer pertains specifically to the axle differential as the direct recipient of the torque conveyed by the driveshaft in rear-wheel-drive systems.