Meritor says it’s creating a one-stop resource for wheel-end solutions by adding three new products — Doctor Preload Bearing Adjustment Tools, Temper-Loc spindle nuts from Temper, and Meritor hubcaps. The company began the expansion of its wheel-end line last year when it introduced Meritor AllFit and brake chambers from TSE Brake.

Meritor and Temper Axle Products have partnered to offer Doctor Preload and Temper-Loc spindle nuts for quick preload, or ‘tight’ bearing adjustments on a variety of steer, drive, and trailer axles. Proper preload settings improve the life of tires, bearings, spindles and wheel seals and decreases ABS faults.     

When used together, they’re said to help fleets meet the SAE J2535 optimal bearing setting of a light preload. Preload settings maintain a slight force on all rollers in tapered roller bearings to minimize vibration and angular movement in wheel-ends.          

The Temper Axle products represent a cost-effective alternative to pre-adjusted hubs now on the market, Meritor says. The ability to set a proper preload is critical to reducing fleet operating expenses and vehicle downtime, it adds.

Doctor Preload is easy to use and requires minimal training. Qualified technicians can set proper preload on each wheel-end bearing with reliable and repeatable processes in less than one minute, says Meritor. It’s backed by millions of hours of precision-load cell testing and hundreds of thousands of road miles. It was created in response to the all-too-common loose bearing setting or slight endplay, which leads to premature and expensive tire wear.       

Doctor Preload tools are covered by a 1-year warranty while Temper-Loc nuts are covered by a 3-year warranty from the date of installation.

The new line of Meritor hubcaps includes aluminum and clear poly hubcaps that meet the operating demands of most heavy-duty applications, direct replacements for many competitive models. They’re available in standard cast aluminum with or without side fill-plug, high-impact clear poly. They can also be bought with or without a vented plug and high-impact clear poly for hub-odometer applications. Each hubcap is packaged with a gasket or O-ring as required.

Meritor’s wheel-end component portfolio includes automatic and manual slack adjusters, standard and premium wheel seals, wheel bearings, hubs, drums, brake chambers, camshafts, and new and remanufactured brake shoes.

To order, visit meritorparts.com or call 888.725-9355.