At the Technology & Maintenance Council Annual Meeting 2014, Dana Holding Corp. announced that Peterbilt and Kenworth are the first production trucks in the industry to offer Spicer AdvanTEK 40 tandem axles. This new 40,000-lb. tandem axle for a variety of Class 8 applications is currently offered in initial production quantities with a select number of popular axle ratios, including the industry’s fastest axle ratio of 2.26:1. The product’s full selection of 13 ratios from 2.26 to 3.91 and options will be available this summer.
The Spicer AdvanTEK 40 tandem axle incorporates a powerful combination of technologies that can enable an engine at highway cruise speed to run up to 200 rpm lower than alternative powertrain systems while still reducing weight and increasing axle efficiency, according to the company. These innovations include patented breakthroughs such as wheel differential locks, a high-efficiency lubrication pump, and a U-tube breather. It also features advanced gearing, 30% increased torque capacity for added strength with downsped engines.
According to the company, it can deliver up to $10,000 in estimated operating savings over a five-year period when compared with other tandem axle offerings.
Up to 21 lbs. lighter than competitive 40,000-lb. tandem axles on the market, Dana Holding explained that the Spicer AdvanTEK 40 axle was developed with faster axle ratios to handle higher axle input torques, lowering engine rpm at highway cruise speed while increasing overall axle efficiency by up to 1.2%.
The Spicer AdvanTEK 40 axle is offered with options including thick-wall housings, Spicer LMS and LMSi hubs, and Dana’s versatile SelecTTrac solution, which maximizes the GAWR rating for aluminum hubs and extends wheel bearing life in wide-based single-tire configurations.
