All-makes Spicer steering parts

Dana showcased many new or enhanced products at the Mid-America show, including new, lighter Spicer steer axles that provide improved braking capabilities, the Spicer AdvanTEK 40 axle, and a new, efficient 40,000-lb tandem axle that offers the industry’s fastest axle ratio of 2.26:1.

There was also the Spicer EconoTrek 6×2 tandem axle, which is now available for 2014 Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks. And two extensions to the Spicer S140 Series of single-reduction, single-drive axles.

Plus a new Spicer Heavy Axle Steering Components All-Makes product line was on display, with complete coverage for all Spicer steer axles, including knuckles, steer arms, crosslink assemblies, beams, and whole axle assemblies.

Dana presented two new steer-axle designs engineered for reduced weight and increased reliability. The new Spicer E-Series steer axles feature a steel-forged beam design that reduces axle weight by up to 35 lb while still delivering the strength and torsional stiffness needed for braking response. Available in the first half of 2015, they are targeted for on-highway, city delivery, and bus chassis applications with gross axle weight ratings from 10,000 to 13,200 pounds.

Also, a new family of Spicer D-Series steer axles for applications with gross axle weight ratings from 10,000 to 14,600 lb features an integrated air disc brake (IADB) knuckle that allows fleets to spec air discs without a net increase in weight over most S-cam drum brake axle systems.

Dana has begun initial production of the Spicer AdvanTEK 40 tandem axle with a select number of popular axle ratios, including the industry’s fastest axle ratio of 2.26:1. Its full selection of 13 ratios from 2.26 to 3.91 will be available this summer.

Weighing up to 400 lb less than a traditional 40,000-lb 6×4 tandem axle arrangement, the Spicer EconoTrek axle is said to offer numerous innovations for reducing maintenance and increasing the fuel economy of linehaul tractors from 2 to 3%. The EconoTrek 6×2 tandem axle, now available for 2014 Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks, supports the use of wide-based single tires on standard track axles with two-inch outset wheels. Later this year, Dana will release a SelecTTrac option that provides maximum hub rating capability for fleets that spec 0- to 0.56-inch outset wheels for wide-based single tires.

And then there’s the Dana Extras iPad app that helps users address design, specifying, training, and service needs in the commercial-vehicle market. Recently updated, it provides key features and benefits about Dana’s drivetrain products and offers instant access to technical and product literature, requests for application approvals, digital product tutorials, and the Dana Warranty System.