Dana Holding Corp. introduced two new Spicer tag axles, which the company said improve fuel efficiency, reduce vehicle weight, and lower OEM installation costs—all while enabling fleets and owner-operators to easily convert a 6×2 arrangement into a 6×4 configuration. In conjunction with the axle launch, Dana has also introduced new Spicer conversion kits, which provide the option of converting existing 6×4 vehicles into a 6×2 configuration.
“This is a new concept for the North American trucking industry and one that we have been developing for several years based on highly positive feedback from our fleet customers and OEM partners,” said Jay Klinko, senior product manager—heavy-duty drive axles for Dana. “With Spicer axles and conversion kits, owners can easily increase the resale value of their trucks, while being provided with the opportunity to change the application or vocation of their vehicles at any point during the lifecycle of the truck.”
Klinko added that fuel economy improvements have been estimated to be up to 3%, depending on application variables. These improvements were achieved primarily by decreasing mechanical drivetrain loss and through a total weight reduction that is roughly 400 lbs. lighter than a traditional 40,000-lb. tandem arrangement. That savings may also be used to offset the added weight of emission-related components, auxiliary power units and other products. Alternatively, owners have the option to increase payloads without sacrificing prior fuel economy levels.
When specified with either a Spicer S170 or Spicer S190 single drive axle in the forward drive position, the new Spicer tag axles also maintain the same 40,000-lb. GAWR of a traditional tandem axle, while maintaining up to 100,000-lb. GCVWRs.
According to the company, the single-axle design requires 14 fewer pints of lubrication, providing additional weight savings and lowering maintenance costs over 6×4 tandem axles. Efficiency improvements are achieved by eliminating energy losses associated with inter-axle drivelines and rear-axle assemblies.
Klinko said the issue of traction deficiency historically associated with 6×2 vehicles can be mitigated with the use of a differential lock, a six-channel ABS/TCS system, or the adjustment of air suspension bag pressures. “This temporarily shifts weight to the driven axle at low speed, which results in similar traction of a traditional tandem axle,” Klinko added.
Reduced installation costs are achieved by the elimination of the inter-axle driveshaft, rear axle head unit, rear axle shafts and rear axle lube. With rear housings on the new tag axles identical to current tandem rear axles, installers can maintain the same brackets, interface points, and geometry, according to the company.
“The proprietary and unique value-added feature of these new tag axles is that they use a specifically designed bolted cover plate and pressed-in spindle plugs,” Klinko said. “For future vehicle purposes, these components can be removed easily and replaced with a functional Spicer rear drive head unit and axle shafts without having to replace the entire rear tag axle. This patented, cost-effective process allows conversions from a 6×2 to 6×4 and back.”
The new Spicer tag axles are available now, with new model numbers S21-060B and S23-070B respectively replacing rear axle model numbers RS404/RS405 and R40-170/R46-170 in this application. Linehaul warranty coverage is equivalent to Spicer drive axles specified in 6×4 applications, which is up to 5 years or 750,000 miles.
