Dana has revealed new details about its Spicer global single axle for trucks, tractors and coaches and announced enhancements to its Spicer Compact Series Plus driveshafts at the IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hannover, Germany.

The Spicer axles are available for pre-production testing and offer increased mechanical efficiency and less weight than current offerings. With improved operating efficiency and a higher payload, production units are scheduled to hit the market in 2018.

Engineered for 6x2 and 4x2 axle configurations, the family of single-reduction solo drive axles can be customized for vehicle applications with gross combination weight ratings of 70,000 to 100,000 pounds. Additionally, the global single axle’s full selection of ratios is the broadest available, supporting up to 6.8:1.

“The Spicer global single axle family delivers the increased efficiency that is required by the industry, along with regional customization that buyers demand,” said Mark Wallace, president of Dana Commercial Vehicle Driveline Technologies. “This axle can also be paired with a wide selection of Spicer driveshafts for a fully optimized drivetrain solution.”

The Spicer global single axle’s high-power density bearings reduce friction and spin loss, allowing for a more efficient transfer of power to cover a broad range of duty cycles.  Patented lube meter technology ensures optimum lubrication of the bearings, and a Venturi-style cover more efficiently directs lubrication to where it is needed. 

Dana also offers a range of fuel-efficient synthetic gear lubricants, such as the Spicer XFE-75W90 axle lubricant, to further improve fuel economy with this drive axle and Dana’s other high-efficiency drivetrain solutions.

Dana also announced enhancements to its Spicer Compact Series Plus driveshafts, reducing components weight and improving overall performance for trucks and buses ranging from 9 to 66 tons. Dana is currently producing versions of this driveshaft for medium-duty vehicles, and a series of six models to support a full range of torque capacities will be available by the second quarter of 2017.

Spicer’s Compact Series Plus driveshafts weigh up to 10% less than competitive offerings, according to Dana. They also enhance vehicle performance by extending product life, increasing durability and improving sealing performance.

“With the new Spicer Compact Series Plus driveshafts, our engineers have created a range of durable driveshafts that also helps original equipment manufacturers meet growing efficiency standards,” said Wallace.