Dana Holding Corp. has introduced new service-free universal joints for its heavy-duty Spicer Life Series (SPL) driveshafts. The company said the result is a permanently lubricated driveline that reduces maintenance costs over the life of the product.
The new SPL-250 and SPL-170 service-free u-joints are designed for main and tandem drive inter-axle driveshaft applications on a variety of Class 8 heavy-duty truck applications. Their design borrows from technology Dana has used in the European truck market for over 13 years, said Tom DeHaven, Dana’s senior manager of driveshaft products
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“Our customers are looking for reliable, low-maintenance driveshafts,” he said. “Permanently lubricated SPL u-joints enable customers to purchase a service-free option.”
The service-free u-joints will be offered via Roadranger, the marketing alliance between Dana and Eaton as well as other suppliers, to provide a complete line of drivetrain components through one network.
Dana also recently upgraded its entire lineup of SPL heavy-duty universal joints with a new bearing package that includes larger needle bearings for increased capacity, a special Viton synthetic seal for improved grease retention and a thermoplastic seal guard to exclude contaminants.
The new bearings help provide up to 40% improvement in dynamic bearing capacity – in the same compact package – to create a driveline with 70% more power density, said DeHaven.
He added that these features will come standard on SPL service free u-joints and become available to all truck OEMs in March, with warranty coverage available for up to four years or 400,000 miles of service in linehaul applications.
See the "Service-free driveshaft " video
