Dana on Thursday, March 31, introduced a new series of lightweight one-piece aluminum driveshafts, the Spicer Diamond Series, using a new proprietary manufacturing process that has fewer parts and helps reduce problems associated with noise, vibration and harshness.
“Dana engineers provide innovations based on customer need and marketplace evolution, creating products and processes that deliver value, ingenuity and performance,” said George Constand, chief technical and quality officer. “The Spicer Diamond Series driveshaft is a prime example of this, offering our customers the compelling combination of a robust and reduced-weight driveline solution that is also environmentally friendly.”
Constand said Dana combined steel end fittings with a single-piece high-strength aluminum tube, replacing the traditional all-steel two-piece driveshaft. The driveshafts also include Spicer Life Series and Spicer Compact Series universal joints, eliminate the center bearing and reduce part count from three joint connections to two. The one-piece design – without the center bearing and one universal joint – helps improve vehicle efficiency by reducing component wear, and the use of high-strength aluminum offers resistance to corrosion and improved appearance.
Dana also introduced a new family of heavy-duty 40,000-pound tandem drive axles. The new Spicer Pro-40 axle is designed to offer fleets a reliable, lightweight axle with improved power density, which enables customers in linehaul, bulk, regional and city delivery applications to increase payload and improve fuel economy. The axle is 100 pounds lighter than the current Dana Spicer DS404.
With planned availability in a range of ratios from 3.25- 3.90, the Spicer Pro-40 axle represents a suitable specification for commercial trucks with 9-, 10-, 12-, or 13-speed overdrive transmissions, diesel engines rated up to 475-hp and 1750 lb-ft. of torque, and GCWRs up to 80,000 pounds. The Spicer Pro-40 is approved with 2-inch outset wheels with optional 11 mm wall housing and is planned to be available for initial shipments later this year.
Dana also introduced the new Spicer LMSi hub system that incorporates the company’s LMS (Low Maintenance System) technology and new integrated features. Major benefits include improved retention clamp load for more reliable performance and reduced disassembly and installation times, reduced friction for minimized rolling resistance, and reduced heat to help maximize seal life.
The LMSi hub allows Dana to approve the use of tandem drive axles from 38,000 to 40,000 pounds when using 2-inch outset wheels with wide-base tires. Spicer LMSi is designed to extend user service intervals to 500,000 miles and is available for a wide range of axle capacities for both steer and drive axles. LMSi can be OE factory-filled with Roadranger FE 75W-90 Synthetic Lubricants; the hubs also are compatible with Extended Life Roadranger Synthetic Lubes.
