ArvinMeritor offers a new family of single and tandem hub-reduction rear axles for vocational markets requiring higher gross combination weights. The axles – available first for the Asian market and here in early summer – offer a wide ratio range to meet the needs of virtually any on-/off-highway application, the company says, as well as a host of suspension adaptations and brake offerings.

Proven in Europe over many years, this new global family of axles offers ratios ranging from a fast 3.61:1 to 7.21:1 to meet the higher road speed requirements that vocational customers have been demanding, says ArvinMeritor. And it does this while saving up to 600 lb, depending on model selection.

The axles offer technology that’s proven in Europe for highway and vocational applications. The advantages come from several key features of the new fully-dressed axle assembly, including a lightweight, high-capacity fabricated housing that can support a variety of suspension requirements, along with a streamlined carrier design for increased ground clearance.

The well-proven four-planet wheel-end hub-reduction gearing allows for higher capacity ratings. The single axle is rated at 26,000-35,000 lb GAWR, and the tandem is rated at 52,000-70,000 lb.

Needle-bearing design throughout the interaxle differential provides spinout protection and eliminates the need for a lube pump. Driver-controlled differential locks are standard in both the forward and rear axle for increased traction when needed.

When combined with the Meritor MX-160 front-drive steer axle, the new hub-reduction axle – either single or tandem – provides maximum mobility in an all-wheel-drive configuration.