Dana Launches New Lightweight Driveshaft Line

ATLANTA — Dana has launched the SPL 250 Lite driveshaft at the North American Commercial Vehicle show in Atlanta, designed to be a lightweight option for most configurations of heavy-duty commercial vehicles.

The SPL 250 Lite can handle torque ratings up to 18,439 lb.-ft. and is up to 25 pounds lighter than competitive products, according to Dana. It has also been engineered for reduced noise, vibration and harshness levels, improved performance, and improved vehicle dynamics without compromising strength.

"The lower numeric axle ratios required to support engine downspeeding and improve fuel efficiency can cause significant stress to the drivetrain and alter harmonics in driveline components," said Mark Wallace, executive vice president of Dana and president of Dana Commercial Driveline Technologies.  "Excessive vibration leads to unplanned downtime and driver fatigue on the road.  The SPL 250 Lite driveshaft leverages proprietary precision manufacturing methods that ensure no NVH issues while delivering a smooth ride.  It also reduces weight without sacrificing performance or durability."

The SPL 250 Lite driveshaft widens the range of applications supported by an updated family of lightweight, durable driveshaft products and expands on the launch of the SPL 350 Lite driveshaft earlier this year.

Designed with fewer components to reduce weight and enable faster, easier installation by OEMs, the driveshafts in this series feature extended component life and reduced maintenance.  They also share service components with their existing SPL 350 and SPL 250 driveshaft counterparts to increase ease of service and simplify inventory for truck owners and service facilities.

Spicer D-Series Steer Axles with Integrated Air Disc Brakes

Dana also announced the addition of an aluminum hub option on Spicer D-Series steer axles with a 14,600-pound gross axle weight rating (GAWR).  This new product expands the previously released 10,000-pound GAWR range to 13,200 pounds with aluminum hubs, and introduces a 14,600-pound GAWR integrated air disc brake steer axle available with this lightweight hub option.

Spicer D-Series steer axles are designed for on-highway, city-delivery, bus, and vocational applications. These axles build upon the Spicer E-Series axles, providing greater durability and superior performance along with reduced maintenance and tire wear. Additionally, Spicer D-Series steer axles provide a robust axle-to-brake attachment and reduced assembly time.

The Spicer D-Series steer axles reduces weight by up to 76 pounds when compared with existing solutions, according to Dana. The axles are available in both standard and wide beam widths, delivering broad application coverage for the commercial-vehicle market.

S140 Drive Axle Available on Peterbilt Medium-Duty Trucks

The Spicer S140 Series single-reduction, single-drive axle is now available as an option on medium-duty vehicles from Peterbilt, including the 220, 330, 337, and 348 models.  This axle is designed to support Class 6 and 7 applications with gross axle weight ratings from 17,000 through 21,000 pounds.

Dana says the S140 axle can weight up to 100 pounds less than competitive axles and deliver greater payload and improved fuel economy.  It is available in a range of ratios from 3.31 to 6.50:1, supporting medium-duty pick-up and delivery trucks as well as municipal and utility vehicles.  This axle also improves accessibility and versatility with up to one inch of additional ground clearance.