IN THE BAY
How to catch a costly system failure
with preventive maintenance
32 Fleet Maintenance | October 2017
he role of the driveline is to transmit torque from
the engine transmission to the rear axle, and ultimately
the wheels, in the most effi cient and reliable
way possible. Th e role of a fl eet manager is ensure
proper vehicle maintenance in order to maximize
uptime. Both are critical links to moving a vehicle
down the road, and a failure in either system could
render a truck immovable, resulting in numerous
expenses and loss of revenue.
Th at’s why proper driveline preventive maintenance
inspection is imperative, says Meritor’s
Product Technical Specialist Eric Iott. Meritor
(www.meritor.com) is a global supplier of axle,
brake and suspension solutions to OE manufacturers
and the aft ermarket.
“A driveline failure can cause more than $1,000
to replace the unit, plus additional costs to repair
the chassis damage that potentially occurred with
the driveline failure,” Iott says.
A failure in these systems could result in downtime
for typically three to seven days, Iott says.
He says expenses resulting from a driveline
failure could include:
Vehicle tow
Driveline replacement
Labor to install
Lost revenue
Repairing wiring harnesses, air lines, cross
members and other components on the chassis
“Simple inspection and periodic maintenance
can save thousands of dollars of unnecessary
expense,” Iott says.
Inspection Recommendations
While the driveline is designed for the life
of a truck, due to harsh environments and
oft en severe duty cycles, there are instances
where drivelines need to be serviced and worn
components replaced, says Tom Bosler, Dana
Inc.’s director of global product planning for the
commercial-vehicle market. Dana (www.dana.
com) is a supplier of drivetrain, sealing and thermal
management technologies.
“It is imperative to follow inspection procedures
to check splines and joints for possible looseness
or dented tubes,” Bosler says. “Proper lubrication
at recommended maintenance intervals is another
key factor in maximizing the longevity of driveline
components.”
Prevent a major
driveline failure
T
By Vesna Brajkovic, Assistant Editor
IN VEHICLE
» While the driveline is designed for the life
of a truck, due to harsh environments, there
are instances where drivelines need to be
serviced and worn components replaced.
Photo courtesy of Dana Incorporated