When you think you've seen it all

I was at a truck salvage yard today and the owner just had to show me the latest and greatest
in rear drive technology. Freightliner's corporate drives are throw aways-there is really no lube
in the drive housings it's a sump system and a pump sprays oil on the ring and pinion to save
fuel. The other great advancement is the ring gear is welded to the carrier. Just replace the
whole thing for a small price.

Truck Shop

Probably depends on who is writing the check a to whether it is a small price to pay. LOL

Detroit Diff exclusive for Freightliner New Cascadia

Theweldor said:

Probably depends on who is writing the check a to whether it is a small price to pay. LOL

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Why Americans are made of money just look at the stock market.

Truck Shop

Thanks for posting that video StanRUS, I was wrong there is oil in the housing but the principle was the same, doesn't mater it is still over engineered.
A great gimmick for added fuel savings but really it's big profits for Freightliner parts sales.

Truck Shop

Truck Shop said:

Thanks for posting that video StanRUS, I was wrong there is oil in the housing but the principle was the same, doesn't mater it is still over engineered.
A great gimmick for added fuel savings but really it's big profits for Freightliner parts sales.

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Do fleets such as Swift really not notice if their rear ends start failing with a hokey system like this? You would think they would track this kind of stuff closely and let the manufacturer know if they hate it.

If the failure default is to full open valve and lube flow then what is the difference in fuel economy when the thing fails? My guess is that there will be a lot of Freightliners running around with failed valves until the diff takes a dump. Is that unit a drop in like a standard unit or do you have to replace the axle housing complete?

I'd like to see real world fuel savings reports. I'm having a tough time believing it will be significant since the system activates only during certain parameters. I think Truck Stop's hunch is dead on, the only profits to be made with this rear will be at the parts counter.

Also, obsolescence seems like a probable factor here. Use a one-off system that is only available from the dealer, and when you want the customer to junk the truck and buy a new one, stop selling parts for the old one.

We had a 2001 Kenworth that needed a radiator in 2011 or so, no longer available. Good thing we had a crafty radiator shop that came up with a GM part and a file that made it fit.

The fuel savings are about as comparable to, someone putting a tonneau cover on their pick up truck to save fuel..
They weigh 150lbs & cost 800.00

I wonder if they are standard equipment and the customer is forced to buy it.

Looks like another solution to a problem that doesn't exist. More junk that adds cost to a new truck and problems down the road.

That's my favorite line Farmerlund {Solution to a problem that doesn't exist} Another one I use and in this case it really fits {It's a good thing you guy's don't build airplanes
but if you did I would invest my money in Batesville Casket Company}.

Truck Shop

I watched a Gale Banks utube about the aftermarket diff covers on pickups. The information on friction losses and lube fluid dynamics is quite interesting. . I am awaiting the final video.
Cam

Whatever little fuel they save by doing it that way, how much will be taken up in down time/rental, parts, mechanic wages?

I do not see one in my future.

Birken Vogt said:

Whatever little fuel they save by doing it that way, how much will be taken up in down time/rental, parts, mechanic wages?

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Default failure is 'opened valve', i.e. normal diff oil flow. i assume the diff could run until the drop in is worn out from normal use. 5 yr warranty @ 100K miles per year would be 500K. 1.5% savings @ normal highway speeds and loads whatever that is? If you slow the rigs down, you lose productivity. OEMs are trying to meet fleet average fuel mileage regulations, i.e. slow down the destruction of planet earth by the intelligent homo sapiens.

I finally had some time to view the video and I'm wondering what the purpose of the research is? Is Mr. Banks looking at the thermal transfer of heat as mentioned about using aluminum for the pan instead of other materials. The photos showing tubing installed on a pan also seems to indicate some sort of pumping system lube instead of a sump and splash lubrication system. It would be entertaining to view the data for the 1.5% claim in fuel economy. The dubious part of the claim is that it "over our previous axle". So the claim only pertains to their own product and does not state that it is any better, or different, from anyone else's product.

That's StanRUS and Camshawn for the videos.

These innovations are great taking points for the salesman pushing a sale. It's laughable on the level that it will increase fuel mileage, maybe on flat ground. The great advances
stated about the DD15 and the DT12 transmission on fuel savings works out to a average pulling 100,000 lbs of maybe 2 tenths better mileage. But by the time you throw in the DEF
cost and the particulate filter/one box cost your going backward real fast. All of this depends on the driver we have 14L Series 60's rated at 550 hp 1850 torque that with some
of our drivers get the same mileage as a 45,000 dollar DD-15 and the 18,000 dollar DT 12 automatic. That has a tendency of spending time at the dealers being repaired not
making any money. There are no dealers in my area stocking that rear drive, so one can also figure a truck will be setting for seven day's making nothing.

Already been down that road twice with the DT 12 transmissions. Two of our rigs { one in the shop 5 weeks the other 4 weeks} waiting for Detroit Transmission to make their mind
up on replacing the transmissions that were under warranty. The transmissions wouldn't talk to the engines.

What trucks have become is engineers designing and over designing parts and pieces to vindicate their existence as a engineer. IMO

Truck Shop

Truck Shop said:

All of this depends on the driver

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Yep, all of the Super-Truck, Smartway etc demos rely upon excellent drivers.