ArvinMeritor, Inc. recently unveiled an all-new series of durable, trailing-arm air ride trailer suspensions to meet the needs of North American truck-trailer operators in vocational markets, including platform, tank, grain, dump, chassis, bulk, specialty, lowboy, livestock and specialty vans.
The Meritor Trailing-Arm Air (MTA) suspension series was introduced at the company’s U.S. trailer products manufacturing facility to industry journalists and key OEM customers. The MTA series of top-mount and low-mount models completes the company’s lineup of air suspension solutions. Final customer integration and manufacturing readiness—on the first model, the MTA23—continues through summer, with production launch in fall 2010.
“We are focused on and committed to providing only the highest quality suspensions,” said Craig Frohock, general manager, trailer products, ArvinMeritor. “Over the coming months, we’ll work closely with our customers, our supply chain, and our manufacturing and quality teams to ensure flawless delivery and product performance for our customers.”
The five subsequent models will be unveiled in the last quarter of the year and through summer 2011, the company said. ArvinMeritor noted the suspension series features three technology advancements with distinct operational benefits:
• Patented pivot bushing: Absorbs road input, resulting in a softer ride, more cargo protection and reduced torsional stress on the vehicle’s structure. Patented steel interleaf shims in the bushing provide improved fore-aft stiffness aiding in dynamic axle alignment, better tire wear and controlled roll steer.
• Larger, more robust shock absorbers: Specifically tuned to Meritor suspension with three times the damping power over competitors, according to the company. Larger bore design for greater suspension control, and more consistent tire contact with the ground, reducing tire tread wear, improved braking and enhanced handling.
• Unique, patent-pending axle wrap design: For secure and durable axle connection. This also contributes to superior suspension durability, according to company engineers.
The integrated design includes Meritor trailer axles and brakes, and is available with Q Plus cam or air disc brakes, automatic slack adjusters, the SteelLite X30 drum and lightweight hub, and the MTIS (Meritor Tire Inflation System) by PSI.
“This new suspension series provides customers an engineering-proven solution in our suspensions portfolio. Our track record of serving OE and fleet customers with specifications – quality manufacturing – and ‘after the sale’ support is unsurpassed,” said Frohock. “It’s another way we can help provide our customers with superior suspension technology and reliability.”
The suspension offers a five-year, 500,000-mile warranty.
“The Meritor brand stands for strength and dependability that transcends to the company’s commercial vehicle axles, brakes and suspensions, products which carry some of the toughest loads imaginable on roadways all across North America,” said Frohock. The company also produces the RideSentry air ride suspensions MPA (Meritor Parallelogram Air) 20, 38 and 40.
At an earlier press event this year, the company introduced a major drivetrain component (the 14X drive axle), the first in a series of new technological breakthroughs from Meritor. ArvinMeritor executives have stated that with the gradual trucking industry recovery, the timing is “ideal” for major new component introductions that improve vehicle performance and enhance truck and trailer operators’ efficient operations.
