NASHVILLE. Dana Holding Corp. rolled out two new additions to its Spicer S140 Series line of single-reduction single drive axles for medium-duty Class 6 and Class 7 vehicles with gross axle weight ratings (GAWR) up to 21,000 lbs. and gross combined weights (GCW) up to 46,000 lbs.
At a press conference here at the 2014 Technology & Maintenance Council annual meeting, Steve Slesinski, Dana’s director of global product planning for commercial driveline technologies, said the new axle models are being aimed at pickup and delivery, school bus, “midi” bus, motor home, municipal, and utility applications, with a wider range of numerical ratios from 3.31:1 to 6.50:1 to help improve vehicle performance across a variety of vocations.
“We’ve also improved the ground clearance by about 23 millimeters – almost an inch – and designed them for easier installation of parking brakes and retarder systems,” he said.
Slesinski also noted that truck Peterbilt Motor Co. and Kenworth Truck Co. – both divisions of Paccar Corp. – are now offering the Spicer AdvanTEK 40 6x4 tandem axles and EconoTrek 6x2 tandem axle as options for their vehicles.
He said Dana’s research indicates an AdvanTEK 40 tandem axle package can boost over vehicle efficiency 2% and thus save operators an estimated $10,000 over a 5 year period. The EconoTrek 6x2 tandem package saves up to 400 lbs. versus an AdvanTEK 40 when spec’d with aluminum wheels and wide-base tires, generates 2% to 3% efficiency gains, and potentially save $8,000 over 5 years of use.
Later this year, Dana plans to release a SelecTTra option for the EconoTrek to help boost maximum gross axle weight capability for fleets that spec 0- to 0.56-inch outset wheels for wide-based single tires.
