New Dana Spicer® Convertible Tag Axles Improve Fuel Efficiency, Vocational Flexibility

TAMPA, FL....Dana Holding Corporation has introduced two new Spicer® tag axles that improve fuel efficiency, reduce vehicle weight, and lower OEM installation costs – all while enabling fleets and owner-operators to easily convert a 6x2 arrangement into a 6x4 configuration.  In conjunction with the axle launch, Dana has also introduced new Spicer conversion kits, which provide the option of converting existing 6x4 vehicles into a 6x2 configuration.

Fuel economy improvements have been estimated to be up to 3 percent, depending on application variables.  These improvements were achieved primarily by decreasing mechanical drivetrain loss and through a total weight reduction that is roughly 400 pounds lighter than a traditional 40,000-pound 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-pound Gross Axle Weight Ratings of a traditional tandem axle, while maintaining up to 100,000-pound Gross Combined Weight Ratings. 

The single-axle design requires 14 fewer pints of lubrication, providing additional weight savings and lowering maintenance costs over 6x4 tandem axles.  Efficiency improvements are achieved by eliminating energy losses associated with inter-axle drivelines and rear-axle assemblies. 

The issue of traction deficiency historically associated with 6x2 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.

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.

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 6x4 applications, which is up to 5 years or 750,000 miles.