Skip to content Main Navigation Social Connect Resources Our Brand Family Published: In automotive drivetrains, several components confuse people because their names sound similar. Two common examples are half shafts and the drive shaft. Both move rotational force, but they work in different locations and ways. This overview explains how they differ. First, picture the drive shaft. This long, tube like component runs down the center of a rear-wheel-drive, four-wheel-drive, or all-wheel-drive vehicle.