Auburn Gear Engineers New, Super-Reliable Electronic Open-to-Lock Differential for Dana 60 Front and Rear Axles
Auburn, Indiana (PRWEB) October 28, 2013 -- Auburn Gear, Inc., a leading U.S.–based manufacturer of high-performance differentials, revealed that it will present its new patent-pending electronic open-to-lock differential at the 2013 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The new differentials’ case strength and unique gear geometry will make it the toughest and most efficient aftermarket diff on the market. Dependable electronic operation allows the driver to conveniently transition from an open to a locked differential mode as the need arises, all without leaving the driver’s seat.
Auburn Gear has designed an aftermarket differential that instills confidence by eliminating the gear and pneumatic system failures that have been known to occur among those asking more of their Dana 60 axles and aftermarket selectable lockers. Auburn created its new differential in response to marketplace demand for a more reliable solution and to consumer dissatisfaction with the status quo.
“Skilled and unskilled drivers alike can put tremendous stress on a locked differential when one wheel is in the air, or when their vehicle is on terrain that doesn’t require a locker,” Sam Shirley, administrator for Jeep Owners of Central Arkansas (JOCA), said. “It’s not uncommon to see traditional locking differentials fail when folks push them beyond their limits.”
Typically, a selectable locker differential relies on a mechanically complex gear arrangement that is vulnerable to torque stress and has more parts to break. The mechanisms used to engage and disengage the lockers may fail as well. Lockers operating on compressed air can be a hassle to install and maintain and can suffer malfunctions from condensation in the lines that may render the controls inoperable.
“The gear geometry of our new differential minimizes mechanical complexity, locks the gears to the differential housing and thus transfers torque directly from the differential case, not through the gears,” Jamie Forrest, senior product engineer for Auburn Gear, said. “A reliable electronic control, coupled with superior mechanical design and high-strength ductile iron construction, means we’ve engineered absolute confidence into our new Dana 60 aftermarket diff.”
Auburn’s rugged 4-pinion gear design arrangement is designed to exceed the performance of OE and aftermarket differentials alike. “This diff will give drivers total assurance that they won’t break gears when pushing their vehicles to the limit in locked mode,” Forrest added.
When Auburn’s differential is unlocked, or open, it allows each individual wheel to rotate at a variable rate. In its open mode, the new differential provides equal rotational torque to each wheel. Although the wheels may rotate at varying speeds, each applies a similar rotational force, even if one wheel is stationary while the other is revolving.
When the new differential is locked, it forces both wheels to rotate at an equal speed regardless of terrain or traction. In locked mode, each wheel applies a rotational force equal to the conditions and its tractive capacity, so the torque exerted on the differential hemispheres, each side-shaft and wheels can be significantly unequal.
The new differential is backed by an industry-leading one-year warranty and Auburn’s exclusive Differential Replacement Exchange (D-REX) Program. Under the terms of the D-REX Program, Auburn will replace any differential within the first four years after purchase, regardless of circumstances. The replacement differential is one-third of the original cost, or the equivalent of the price of a competitor’s clutch pack. The replacement differential comes fully assembled, tested, certified and ready for installation. No rebuilding is required, and thus no mixing of old or worn parts with new parts is necessary.
Auburn Gear engineers and manufactures a wide range of performance-enhancing and high-performance aftermarket differentials and is proud of its reputation for being exclusively American Made. Auburn Gear makes all of its products in the town of Auburn, Ind., located in the nation’s heartland. A complete product catalog can be accessed on the Auburn Gear website.
Auburn’s Dana 60 aftermarket differentials, model numbers 545022 (4.10:1 & down) and 545023 (4.56:1 & up), are expected to begin shipping on or about March 15, 2014. Product information is now available and can be obtained by contacting Auburn Gear or members of its extensive North American and worldwide distributor network. A distributor locator is available at: http://www.auburngear.com/aftermarket/distributors.aspx
Questions regarding Auburn Gear’s new Dana 60 aftermarket differential may be directed to Justin R. Smith at (260) 920-1359 or jrsmith(at)auburngear(dot)com
To access high-resolution images of Auburn Gear’s new Dana 60 aftermarket differential, please visit: http://goo.gl/wumTUp.
Editors Note:
About Auburn Gear
Auburn Gear, Inc. was organized in 1982 and has decades of gear manufacturing experience. The company serves international builders of vehicles and machinery for the automotive, truck, bus, aerial lift, agriculture, light and heavy construction, mining, forestry and marine industries. Capabilities include full line design, development, testing and manufacturing of a wide range of geared products. Facilities include development, gauge, gear and metallurgical laboratories. Production process capacities include turning, gear cutting, spline rolling, heat treat, shot peening and finished grinding.
Dana and Dana 60 may be trademarks of their respective organizations. The terms Dana and Dana 60 and references to models and product designations are for reference purposes only. Neither Auburn Gear nor its products are sponsored or endorsed by Dana and Dana 60 and there is nothing else in the use of the Dana and Dana 60 designation that should lead a reader to believe that there is an association between Auburn Gear and these organizations.
Rick Ashley, Octane VTM, http://www.AuburnGear.com, (317) 920-6105, [email protected]
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