Roadranger, the joint marketing arm for Dana Corp. and Eaton Corp., last week introduced Class 7 and Class 8 truck components designed to operate more efficiently and, to appeal to less experienced drivers, more easily.
A conceptual drive-axle system and heavy-duty steer axle and hub systems from Dana, and automatic transmissions from Eaton were featured at Roadranger’s press conference in Kalamazoo, Mich.
Dana’s conceptual drive-axle system eliminates drive gears from the rearmost axle on a Class 8 truck. Fewer moving parts and less lubrication simplify the drive-axle system, decreasing weight and maintenance costs.
The forward axle – Dana Spicer’s S21-170DE drive – provides hauling power and traction. For extra traction the driver engages the axle’s differential lock. This deflates the air bags on the rear axle – Dana Spicer’s R21BS reconfigurable tag – so during low speeds all weight is transferred to the forward axle, which delivers pulling power to left and right wheels.
“This 6×2 drive gives the same traction or perhaps even better traction than the traditional 6×4 tandem axle,” says Dana’s Leo Wenstrup. Pulling up to 160,000 pounds, the 6×2 drive weighs 200 pounds less than a 6×4 system.
Eliminating the rear differential and inter-axle driveshaft means less downtime, fewer repairs and a truck more suitable for less experienced drivers who often misuse drive-axle systems in low-traction situations.
To address resale problems associated with a 6Ă—2 drive, Dana has kits to reconfigure the rear tag into a conventional drive. Wenstrup says the conversion takes about eight hours, and costs less than the resale value it adds to the truck.
