Dana Announces New 40,000-Pound Tandem For Heavy Linehaul Applications

Kalamazoo, Michigan -- Jan 19, 2005 -- Dana Corporation’s (NYSE: DCN) Commercial Vehicle Systems group has introduced a new version of its popular Dana® Spicer® Super-40™ tandem drive axle. The new axle features increased GCW ratings for high horsepower, high torque engines and a wide range of ratios to better meet contemporary demands in a variety of linehaul applications.

Rated at 40,000 pounds gross axle weight, the Super-40 is built with Dana’s high power density (HPDTM) design technology, wider face-width gearing, and high capacity bearing systems, resulting in significantly higher gross combination weight (GCW) ratings of up to 160,000 pounds. The axle was designed for maximum reliability and economy by eliminating more than 50 percent of components found in previous axles.

”This is the ideal tandem for anyone specifying 40,000-pound suspensions, running the most powerful engines, and pulling the greatest payloads,” said Steve Slesinski, director of product planning for Dana. “It will certainly do the job virtually anywhere in North America, especially states and provinces where higher than normal payload capacities are allowed.”

Additional Dana Spicer Super-40 features and benefits include:

Forged, heat-treated steel differential cases for maximum strength and greater resistance to shock load.

Sixteen large, fine-pitch M18 bolt ring gear mountings for superior reliability.

Integrated ring gear and wheel differential mounting systems that eliminate the need for bolted joints and improve reliability.

A patented precision differential bearing adjustment system for maximum bearing and gear life.

A patented integral power divider and carrier “power ribs” for added strength.

Best-in-class inter-axle driveline angles that considerably reduce harmful vibrations.

A patented axle breather design permits unrestricted airflow. 

Dana also offers a wide range of options with the Super-40 axle that optimize performance and reliability and reduce maintenance. These include:

With the growing use of wide base single tires, wide track axles to improve stability.

Driver-controlled wheel differential lock that maximizes traction.

A patented on-demand lube pump for optimal spinout protection and cooler operating temperatures. 

The Dana Spicer Super-40 drive axle is available in a broad range of ratios from 3.07 through 7.17, making this axle a good choice for a variety of vocational applications. The axle was developed to perform with vehicles outfitted with future drivetrain ratings of up to 2,450 pound-feet of torque and 700 horsepower in on-highway applications.

Dana’s Commercial Vehicle Systems group, part of the Heavy Vehicle Technologies and Systems Group, designs, manufactures, and markets front-steer, rear-drive, trailer, and auxiliary axles; driveshafts; steering shafts; brakes; suspensions; and related systems, modules, and services for the commercial vehicle market. Major components and modules are marketed under the SpicerÒbrand name.

For more information on Dana Spicer Super-40 drive axles and other Roadranger®products and services, visit the Internet at www.roadranger.com, or write to Roadranger Marketing, P.O. Box 4013, Kalamazoo, MI 49003. To reach a Roadranger right now, dial 1-800-826-HELP (4357) in the U.S. and Canada.  In Mexico, dial 01-800-826-4357.

The Roadranger®Solution is an unbeatable combination of the best drivetrain, chassis, and safety components from Dana Corporation and Eaton Corporation, all backed by the Roadrangers – the most experienced, most expert, and most accessible drivetrain consultants in the business. 

Dana Corporation is a global leader in the design, engineering, and manufacture of value-added products and systems for automotive, commercial, and off-highway vehicles. Delivering on a century of innovation, the company's continuing operations employ approximately 45,000 people worldwide dedicated to advancing the science of mobility. Founded in 1904 and based in Toledo, Ohio, Dana operates technology, manufacturing, and customer-service facilities in 30 countries. Sales from continuing operations totaled $7.9 billion in 2003.