Dana introduced its new Spicer S172 series single drive axle for Class 7 and 8 vehicles during a press conference at the Technology & Maintenance Council annual meeting in Atlanta. According to Dana, the new axles retains the robustness and strength of the existing S170 drive axle while reducing weight by more than 60 pounds.

The axle is crafted for 4x2, 6x2, and 8x2 applications up to 25,000 pounds gross axle weight rating. It offers a broad range of gear ratios, from 3.07 to 6.14, and features a low hypoid offset with High-Power Density AdvanTek gearing to optimize efficiency. The high-strength pinion bearings allow for greater lifespan under heavy loads, improving durability and overall performance, the company says. In addition, a passive lube management system has been added that requires less lubricant overall while maintain optimum lobe flow.

"It uses a venturi-cover design to optimize the lube flow in the axle and to make better use of the available lubricant, so we require less lubricant that a standard axle," said Steve Slesinski, director of Dana's global product planning. "We coupled the venturi-cover with a patented lube meter that controls the amount of lubricant going in between the bearing system of the pinion. That helps reduce spin losses due to churning and thus improves axle efficiency."

The single drive axle can also be paired with the Dana tag axle as part of the Spicer EconoTrek tandem axle, a durable, lightweight 6x2 configuration that offers increased fuel economy, improved performance, and reduced maintenance for heavy-duty linehaul tractors. This system is up to 3% more efficient and up to 380 pounds lighter than typical 6x4 offerings.

The tandem version is more than 60 pounds lighter than existing D170 series tandem axles, and it's available in a broad range of gear ratios, from 3.07 to 6.14, to serve a variety of needs, especially heavy-haul applications such as the Canadian logging sector with GWV up to 160,000 pounds and 50,000-pound gross axle weight ratings.

“Dana engineers are continuously examining innovative ways to improve our existing products,” said Mark Wallace, president of Dana Commercial Driveline Technologies. “We were able to build upon the advanced features of the S170 and make it lighter without sacrificing its industry-proven durability and efficiency. We remain a company committed to finding a better way to address the needs of our customers and the commercial-vehicle market.”