Dana Holding Corp. introduced a new series of lightweight, one-piece aluminum driveshafts for the commercial truck market. The Spicer Diamond Series driveshaft weighs 40% less than traditional two-piece steel driveshafts, has fewer parts and helps reduce problems associated with noise, vibration and harshness, the company said.

George Constand, chief technical and quality officer for Dana, said the company is the first manufacturer to combine steel end fittings with a single-piece, high-strength aluminum tube, replacing the traditional all-steel, two-piece driveshaft. The manufacturing process delivers a more robust driveshaft with significantly lower weight—up to 100 lbs. when compared with traditional two-piece assembly systems.

Designed for heavy-duty commercial trucks using two-piece steel driveshafts of 7.5 to 10 ft., the Spicer Diamond Series driveshafts reduce installation costs through the elimination of the center bearing and by reducing part count from three joint connections to two. The one-piece design improves vehicle efficiency by reducing component wear, and the use of high-strength aluminum offers resistance to corrosion and improved appearance.

The company also introduced a new family of heavy-duty 40,000-lb. tandem drive axles. The new Spicer Pro-40 axle is designed to offer fleets a reliable, lightweight and competitively priced alternative to current available axles for linehaul, bulk, regional and city delivery vehicles, Dana said.