Meritor announced its new 14X HE high-efficiency linehaul tandem drive axle during the 2017 Technology & Maintenance Council’s (TMC) Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition in Nashville TN.
“Built upon our trusted and valued 14X platform that is specified by a large majority of fleets, the new 14X HE is an evolutionary axle that takes efficiency to a whole new level,” said Ken Hogan, vice-president, Rear Drivetrain for Meritor. “Based on today’s diesel prices, a fleet with 1,000 trucks equipped with the 14X HE could realize $1 million per year in fuel savings.”
Meritor’s engineering teams used cutting-edge technologies to improve axle efficiency up to 1.5% while also reducing weight by 30 pounds over the current industry-leading 14X design. The 14X HE comes standard with high-efficiency bearings, the Meritor Lube Management system and precision-finished gearing.
Meritor uses laser welding to manufacture components to reduce weight and drive efficiencies, Hogan said. The 14X HE’s ring gear is laser-welded to the differential housing, offering a very robust joint that eliminates fasteners and reduces oil churning losses. The axle, which targets linehaul customers seeking fuel efficiency, has superfast ratios down to 2.15 for aggressive downspeeding.
The 14X HE is one of 20 new global products that Meritor will introduce as part of its M2019 strategic plan.
To learn more about the new axle, visit www.meritor14xhe.com.