With the completion of major product upgrades to its Spicer Life Series (SPL) Model 170 universal joint assembly, Dana Holding Corp. (www.dana.com) said it has now enhanced the durability and performance features of its entire portfolio of SPL heavy-duty universal joints.

Dana said the new SPL-170 universal joint assembly offers a new bearing package that provides larger needle bearings for improved capacity, a special Viton synthetic seal for increased grease serviceability and retention, and a thermoplastic seal guard to prevent contaminants. A new premium synthetic lubricant is also added to give further improvement in bearing life through the three-year/350,000-mile initial lubrication interval.

In August 2010, the company introduced upgrades to its Spicer Life Series (SPL) Model 250 universal joint assemblies. Both the SPL-250 and SPL-170 are now offered on all makes and models of heavy-duty trucks produced in North America, added the maker.

The new Spicer SPL-170 assembly features 12,550 lb./ft. (17,000 Nm) of torque capacity rating. It has been developed for main and tandem drive inter-axle driveshaft applications for various Class 8 heavy-duty truck applications. The SPL-170 universal joints provide customers with a 20 percent improvement in dynamic bearing capacity to deliver a driveline with 70 percent more power density than its nearest rival — all in the same compact package. The SPL-250 universal joint assembly, on the other hand, provides customers with 40 percent improvement in dynamic bearing capacity, said the company.