Meritor MXL Drivelines Selected as Standard Equipment on Freightliner, Western Star Trucks

TROY, Mich., April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- ArvinMeritor, Inc. (NYSE: ARM) today announced that Meritor® MXL (Meritor Xtended Lube) drivelines have been selected as standard equipment on all Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) heavy duty vehicles. New Freightliner Cascadia®, Coronado® and Coronado SD and Western Star® trucks with a start of production after April 26th will incorporate this component change.  

Designed for truck operators who seek reduced maintenance costs and a longer warranty, Meritor MXL drivelines feature 100,000-mile lubrication intervals for both U-joints and the slip section, along with a three-year, 350,000-mile linehaul warranty.

The industry-proven Meritor 17, 176 and 18 RN series drivelines will transition to the enhanced MXL series in new truck production. They are compatible with standard RN yokes to simplify parts inventories and facilitate upgrades for in-service vehicles.

The Meritor MXL makes extended lubrication intervals the new standard in greaseable drivelines. At 100,000 miles, the MXL's lubrication interval is twice as long as other conventional, greaseable drivelines. It also aligns with recommended lubrication intervals of other chassis components in linehaul vocations, helping truck owners manage routine preventive maintenance and control expenses.  When compared to conventional, greaseable drivelines, the company estimates that life cycle cost savings could be as much as $250 per truck for a typical linehaul vocation.

The MXL joins the RPL permanently-lubricated driveline in the Meritor family of driveline products for commercial vehicles. It incorporates similar design characteristics of the RPL seal design, combining an advanced nitrile seal and protective shield to increase slip assembly operating life.

The U-joint builds upon the proven high-strength Meritor RN series design. Its needle-bearing package with contoured ends minimize axial (side) loading, and the glass-reinforced nylon thrust washer prevents metal-to-metal contact, all of which result in greater reliability and longer life.  

Meritor® MXL Features and Benefits

• 100,000 mile lubrication intervals for linehaul applications is twice as long as conventional, greaseable drivelines

• 3-year, 350,000-mile linehaul warranty

• Incorporates the proven RN series U-joint design and RPL slip sealing technology 

• E-coated, protective metal shroud retains and improves slip seal lip contact and is more robust than competitive "booted" designs. Uses industry standard lithium-based grease. 

• Self-aligning center bearing accommodates +/- 5 degree driveline angularity.  Includes improved balance specification for reduced noise and vibration, standard on all Meritor drivelines  

The MXL is a proven component in the Meritor family of drivelines, along with the RPL permanently-lubricated driveline. Exclusively available in North America, the RPL drivelines continue to be a popular choice by fleet customers that value the elimination of lubrication, the longest warranty coverage, and resulting life cycle cost savings (up to $500 per truck).  

Daimler Trucks North America LLC, headquartered in Portland, Ore., is the leading medium- and heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America. Daimler Trucks North America produces and markets Class 4-8 vehicles and is a Daimler company, the world's leading commercial vehicle manufacturer.

ArvinMeritor, Inc. is a premier global supplier of a broad range of integrated systems, modules and components to original equipment manufacturers and the aftermarket for the transportation and industrial sectors.  The company marked its centennial anniversary in 2009, celebrating a long history of 'forward thinking.' The company serves commercial truck, trailer and specialty original equipment manufacturers and certain aftermarkets, and light vehicle manufacturers. ArvinMeritor common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ARM. For more information, visit the company's Web site at: http://www.arvinmeritor.com.

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SOURCE ArvinMeritor, Inc.