Dana Holding Corp. announced a new driveshaft specifically engineered to further support engine downspeeding. Dana’s next-generation driveshaft weighs 30 lbs. less than existing products and is tailored to address the specific torque-management strategies of individual commercial-vehicle manufacturers, the company explained.
Engineered with fewer components, this next-generation driveshaft offers a simplified installation process to reduce assembly costs for original equipment manufacturers and improved ease of maintenance for truck owners, the company said. Performance and vehicle dynamics are improved with reduced noise, vibration, and harshness levels, which can also extend component life. This driveshaft supports an axle ratio lower than 2.26:1, which is the fastest ratio on the market today.
“Engine downspeeding is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Each OEM implements this efficiency-boosting strategy in its own way, resulting in very specific torque-handling requirements,” said Mark Wallace, executive vice president of Dana and group president of Dana On-Highway Driveline Technologies. “This next-generation driveshaft is the result of our continuous drive to deliver flexible solutions to meet each customer’s unique needs while further reducing weight and improving efficiency in our products.”