What components turn the wheels of a vehicle?

The correct answer is axle shafts, as they are the critical components that transmit power from the vehicle’s transmission to the wheels, enabling them to turn. When the engine generates power, this power is transferred through the drive train to the axle shafts. The axle shafts are connected to the wheels, allowing them to rotate and propel the vehicle forward or backward.

Drive shafts serve a different purpose; they connect the transmission to the axle assembly, not directly turning the wheels themselves. Brake pads, while essential for slowing down the vehicle, play no role in the actual turning of the wheels. Wheels are the components that roll on the ground and are affected by the axle shafts but do not directly produce movement without the power supplied through the axle shafts.