diff --git a/crates/bevy_math/src/primitives/dim3.rs b/crates/bevy_math/src/primitives/dim3.rs
index 459c8e26ee9ea..c29c696108d8d 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_math/src/primitives/dim3.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_math/src/primitives/dim3.rs
@@ -71,6 +71,12 @@ impl TryFrom<Vec3> for Direction3d {
     }
 }
 
+impl From<Direction3d> for Vec3 {
+    fn from(value: Direction3d) -> Self {
+        value.0
+    }
+}
+
 impl std::ops::Deref for Direction3d {
     type Target = Vec3;
     fn deref(&self) -> &Self::Target {
@@ -85,6 +91,13 @@ impl std::ops::Neg for Direction3d {
     }
 }
 
+impl std::ops::Mul<f32> for Direction3d {
+    type Output = Vec3;
+    fn mul(self, rhs: f32) -> Self::Output {
+        self.0 * rhs
+    }
+}
+
 impl std::ops::Mul<Direction3d> for Quat {
     type Output = Direction3d;
 
diff --git a/crates/bevy_transform/src/components/transform.rs b/crates/bevy_transform/src/components/transform.rs
index 316ee97719d7e..46dcceb68e5cf 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_transform/src/components/transform.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_transform/src/components/transform.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use super::GlobalTransform;
 use bevy_ecs::{component::Component, reflect::ReflectComponent};
+use bevy_math::primitives::Direction3d;
 use bevy_math::{Affine3A, Mat3, Mat4, Quat, Vec3};
 use bevy_reflect::prelude::*;
 use bevy_reflect::Reflect;
@@ -185,55 +186,58 @@ impl Transform {
 
     /// Get the unit vector in the local `X` direction.
     #[inline]
-    pub fn local_x(&self) -> Vec3 {
-        self.rotation * Vec3::X
+    pub fn local_x(&self) -> Direction3d {
+        // Direction3d::new(x) panics if x is of invalid length, but quat * unit vector is length 1
+        Direction3d::new(self.rotation * Vec3::X).unwrap()
     }
 
     /// Equivalent to [`-local_x()`][Transform::local_x()]
     #[inline]
-    pub fn left(&self) -> Vec3 {
+    pub fn left(&self) -> Direction3d {
         -self.local_x()
     }
 
     /// Equivalent to [`local_x()`][Transform::local_x()]
     #[inline]
-    pub fn right(&self) -> Vec3 {
+    pub fn right(&self) -> Direction3d {
         self.local_x()
     }
 
     /// Get the unit vector in the local `Y` direction.
     #[inline]
-    pub fn local_y(&self) -> Vec3 {
-        self.rotation * Vec3::Y
+    pub fn local_y(&self) -> Direction3d {
+        // Direction3d::new(x) panics if x is of invalid length, but quat * unit vector is length 1
+        Direction3d::new(self.rotation * Vec3::Y).unwrap()
     }
 
     /// Equivalent to [`local_y()`][Transform::local_y]
     #[inline]
-    pub fn up(&self) -> Vec3 {
+    pub fn up(&self) -> Direction3d {
         self.local_y()
     }
 
     /// Equivalent to [`-local_y()`][Transform::local_y]
     #[inline]
-    pub fn down(&self) -> Vec3 {
+    pub fn down(&self) -> Direction3d {
         -self.local_y()
     }
 
     /// Get the unit vector in the local `Z` direction.
     #[inline]
-    pub fn local_z(&self) -> Vec3 {
-        self.rotation * Vec3::Z
+    pub fn local_z(&self) -> Direction3d {
+        // Direction3d::new(x) panics if x is of invalid length, but quat * unit vector is length 1
+        Direction3d::new(self.rotation * Vec3::Z).unwrap()
     }
 
     /// Equivalent to [`-local_z()`][Transform::local_z]
     #[inline]
-    pub fn forward(&self) -> Vec3 {
+    pub fn forward(&self) -> Direction3d {
         -self.local_z()
     }
 
     /// Equivalent to [`local_z()`][Transform::local_z]
     #[inline]
-    pub fn back(&self) -> Vec3 {
+    pub fn back(&self) -> Direction3d {
         self.local_z()
     }
 
diff --git a/examples/3d/tonemapping.rs b/examples/3d/tonemapping.rs
index edeb97e0332e0..db4d4a9e23067 100644
--- a/examples/3d/tonemapping.rs
+++ b/examples/3d/tonemapping.rs
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ fn setup_color_gradient_scene(
     camera_transform: Res<CameraTransform>,
 ) {
     let mut transform = camera_transform.0;
-    transform.translation += transform.forward();
+    transform.translation += *transform.forward();
 
     commands.spawn((
         MaterialMeshBundle {
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ fn setup_image_viewer_scene(
     camera_transform: Res<CameraTransform>,
 ) {
     let mut transform = camera_transform.0;
-    transform.translation += transform.forward();
+    transform.translation += *transform.forward();
 
     // exr/hdr viewer (exr requires enabling bevy feature)
     commands.spawn((
diff --git a/examples/helpers/camera_controller.rs b/examples/helpers/camera_controller.rs
index 82e1ff5c3f1f6..43ea542474761 100644
--- a/examples/helpers/camera_controller.rs
+++ b/examples/helpers/camera_controller.rs
@@ -171,8 +171,8 @@ fn run_camera_controller(
                 controller.velocity = Vec3::ZERO;
             }
         }
-        let forward = transform.forward();
-        let right = transform.right();
+        let forward = *transform.forward();
+        let right = *transform.right();
         transform.translation += controller.velocity.x * dt * right
             + controller.velocity.y * dt * Vec3::Y
             + controller.velocity.z * dt * forward;
diff --git a/examples/transforms/transform.rs b/examples/transforms/transform.rs
index 48152662820e5..6e99a1ec0bddc 100644
--- a/examples/transforms/transform.rs
+++ b/examples/transforms/transform.rs
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ fn rotate_cube(
     // Update the rotation of the cube(s).
     for (mut transform, cube) in &mut cubes {
         // Calculate the rotation of the cube if it would be looking at the sphere in the center.
-        let look_at_sphere = transform.looking_at(center, transform.local_y());
+        let look_at_sphere = transform.looking_at(center, *transform.local_y());
         // Interpolate between the current rotation and the fully turned rotation
         // when looking a the sphere,  with a given turn speed to get a smooth motion.
         // With higher speed the curvature of the orbit would be smaller.