Tank truck carriers running Peterbilt 567 and 579 models have a new option to shed front-end weight and maximize payload capacity with the launch of Hendrickson's Softek front steer axle and monoleaf suspension system.

Designed for heavy-duty applications rated at 12,500 and 13,200 lbs., the setup pairs Hendrickson’s Steertek NXT steer axle with a monoleaf spring design and a traditional clamp group architecture.

“Softek is the lightest-weight front steer axle and suspension system available at Peterbilt for the 567 and 579 models, providing customers with up to 74 lbs. of weight savings versus standard front axles and multi-leaf spring suspensions,” the company said in a news release.

For fleets hauling dynamic liquid loads, the integrated system offers several operational and maintenance advantages:

• Enhanced roll stability: The monoleaf suspension eliminates interleaf friction to improve ride comfort and increase front-end handling.
• Robust architecture: The Steertek NXT axle utilizes a box-shaped, continuous beam design to resist horizontal, vertical, and twisting forces more effectively than traditional I-beam configurations.
• Wheel-end weight reduction: Carriers can specify an Integrated Air Disc Brake (IADB) knuckle, removing the need for separate torque plates and fasteners.
• Streamlined maintenance: A unique two-piece knuckle design allows technicians to service bushings without removing the kingpin, while premium seals and bushings extend recommended service intervals up to 100,000 miles.
• Long-term coverage: The system is backed by a 10-year, 1-million-mile structural warranty and a five-year, 750,000-mile spindle-to-spindle warranty.