Ive been trying to look this up but I cant find much. But in a Honda Accord for example. There is a front drive axle but what is going on in the rear? Is there not a dead axle connecting the two rear wheels together? I looked underneath the rear of an Accord and saw something connecting the two sides together but im not sure what that was.
Most cars do not have any axles at all. The suspension is independent and the drive is transmitted by drive shafts that have constant velocity joints on each end. This enhances handling and reduces the un-sprung weight. It is not just about cost of building the car. Using independent suspension gives more interior room as well. Even new 4x4's mostly now use independent suspension to get better on road handling without loss of off road ability. This goes back to the P6 Rovers with the DiDiion rear suspension set up even though this was the drive axle.
Most FWD vehicles have an independent rear suspension. In this case, no, those vehicles will not have an axle as each rear wheel is not physically linked to the other rear wheel. But some FWD vehicles have a semi-independent rear suspension, sometimes known as a torsion beam set-up. It is a rear axle of sorts and is mainly used on less expensive vehicles as it is cheaper to manufacture. Another advantage of a torsion beam suspension over an independent suspension is the amount of room it takes up inside the cabin. It is less, giving more space for seating or cargo inside the vehicle.
It is what is called a trailing arm suspension with a lower arm and a torsion link (upper arm). There is also a stabilizer bar.
