NASHVILLE — Meritor has introduced a lighter-weight drive axle platform designed for Class 6 and 7 applications called the 13X.

The 13X drive axle is engineered for a variety of medium-duty applications including pick-up and delivery, beverage, utility, school bus, construction, and ambulance. It uses the same housing, yokes and seals from the 14X drive axle platform but has been made lighter weight.

“With its power-dense design, the 13X is built to meet or exceed customer expectations for performance and durability,” said Karl Mayer, director, product strategy, axles, North America for Meritor. “While the 14X platform has served us well in these markets, we’ve listened to our OEM customers’ requests for an axle that is lighter, more efficient and tailored to meet the needs of medium-duty applications.”

The 13X is available in a wide variety of ratios from 3.90 to 6.50 and with gross axle weight ratings between 17,000 and 21,000 pounds. It is offered with standard differentials and is compatible with air-drum or hydraulic-disc brakes as well as parking brakes.

The 14X single-axle platform will continue to be available for application options that the 13X will not address, including ratios or driver-controlled differential locks, according to Meritor.

The 13X will be available for OEM production in the second quarter of this year.