Eaton expands aftermarket portfolio
Drivetrain components balance price, performance
Eaton Corp. launched a new brand of drivetrain components engineered specifically for the aftermarket. The new lineup, known as EverTough, provides aftermarket customers with the optimum balance of price and performance to meet their replacement part needs, the company says. The first EverTough offering is a new line of heavy-duty clutches.
Eaton is launching a new family of aftermarket products with a line of EverTough clutches, which feature a one-year unlimited-mileage warranty and lube intervals of 25,000 miles.“The new EverTough components will complement Eaton’s production parts currently available in the aftermarket,” says John Beering, vice president and general manager of Eaton’s Clutch and Aftermarket business unit. “The pricing will be competitively positioned to allow our fleet and dealer customers the opportunity to carry a complete portfolio of Eaton’s new and aftermarket clutch products. And best of all, the EverTough brand will receive Roadranger sales and service support.”
To ensure the EverTough clutches have reliability and durability at a competitive aftermarket price, Eaton says it designed the clutch with an aftermarket-specific facing, a release system with standard dual zerk fittings and dampeners to meet the torsional vibration needs of the aftermarket. In addition, lube intervals are set at 25,000 miles to reduce maintenance costs.
With torque ratings available up to 2,050 ft.-lb., the clutches are available in both 14- and 15.5-inch heavy-duty designs for all makes of diesel-powered commercial trucks. Additionally, the clutches include a one-year unlimited-mileage warranty.
Meritor MXL driveline available to aftermarket
ArvinMeritor will offer its Meritor MXL (Meritor Extended Lube) driveline to the North American aftermarket. The MXL driveline was designed for truck operators who want reduced maintenance costs – up to $340 per truck in total service costs, according to Meritor – and a longer warranty. The Meritor MXL is supplied with the same product ratings and application guidelines as the Meritor 17N, 176N and 18N series. A new 16N series for medium-duty vehicles will be available in spring 2011.
“The MXL combines the simplicity and durability of the proven RN U-joint design with the premium sealing capability of the RPL permanently-lubed product,” says Doug Ringer, product manager, Drivelines, Aftermarket for ArvinMeritor.
ArvinMeritor introduced the MXL series of greaseable drivelines – with 100,000-mile lubrication intervals and a three-year 300,000-mile warranty in linehaul service – as an original equipment component in March 2009. It joins the RPL permanently-lubricated driveline in the Meritor family of driveline products for commercial vehicles.
IN BRIEF
* ArvinMeritor will offer multiple logistics services to customers through a new business segment called Meritor Aftermarket Services. The new venture will provide companies in the industrial and commercial vehicle markets with the opportunity to leverage ArvinMeritor’s strengths in material planning, quality, remanufacturing, packaging, distribution and value-added services globally.
* Peterbilt Motors Co. received an order for 1,000 Model 587 SmartWay-certified trucks from truckload carrier U.S. Xpress Enterprises.
* Great Dane Trailers announced the reorganization of the company’s management structure as part of an ongoing process aimed at enhancing its business fundamentals and accelerating future growth.
* Exide Technologies will begin shipping flooded lead-acid batteries to Chrysler in July, eventually transitioning the automaker to Exide’s advanced lead-acid absorbent glass-mat batteries.
* DuraClass has added a corrosion-resistant aluminum dump body to its line of Class 5-8 truck bodies. The new dump body is designed to eliminate paint expense and increase body value at trade-in.
* Caterpillar is holding an online sweepstakes featuring a trip to Las Vegas to witness the unveiling of the first model of Cat Vocational Trucks. Entries can be submitted online through Feb. 22 at www.drivecat.com.
* Pressure Systems International is offering the full set of Vol. IV (Jan.-Nov./Dec. 2010) Commercial Fleet Tire Digest issues (www.psitiredigest.com) as a printed spiral-bound book.
Bendix launches EverSure spring brake technology
Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake says its new next-generation spring brake is lightweight and corrosion-resistant while delivering best-in-class durability and performance.
Bendix designed its EverSure spring brake with No Touch to industry-standard dimensions for easy installation as an aftermarket replacement part.
Another advancement in the EverSure spring brake is the elimination of contact between compressed power spring coils, allowing the protective coating to remain intact and resulting in improved corrosion resistance. “Engineered with an increased number of active coils, the EverSure spring brake also reduces surface stresses in the power spring,” Kromer says. “The elimination of coil contact and the additional active coils allow the EverSure spring brake to set the benchmark for durability.”
Kromer says that Bendix engineers also optimized the diaphragm geometry of the EverSure spring brake, resulting in enhanced force output. While it also is available in the aftermarket, the EverSure spring brake is built to exceed all compliance requirements for performance and durability in original equipment.
Freightliner, McNeilus team for bridge formula mixer
Freightliner Trucks announced a new collaboration with McNeilus Companies in the development of a new bridge formula mixer chassis. Suited for the ready-mix market, Freightliner says its latest vocational product – a 114-inch BBC Severe Duty set-forward axle – features a lightweight, durable aluminum cab with a 29.5-inch bumper-to-front axle setting that maximizes concrete hauling capacity for bridge formula mixer configurations.
Equipped with the McNeilus 10.5-cubic-yard Bridgemaster Transit Mixer, the Freightliner 114 Severe Duty mixer allows for a 36-foot bridge.Equipped with the McNeilus 10.5-cubic-yard Bridgemaster Transit Mixer, the 114 Severe Duty mixer allows for a 36-foot bridge with a 66,000-lb. GVW and a 9.5- to 9.7-cubic-yard payload, depending on concrete design density.
“Not only does the 114SD SFA chassis provide optimal operating performance by increasing productivity and payload, it also has been designed to reduce body installation time and cost,” says Richard Saward, general manager of vocational sales for Freightliner Trucks.
“During the entire design process of the 114SD SFA, we worked closely with Freightliner engineers in order to facilitate the seamless installation and upfit of our mixer body,” says Tom Harris, vice president of sales for McNeilus Companies.
