Kenworth announced Sunday at the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) meeting in Nashville, Tenn., its T370 is now available with Meritor’s non-drive front steer axles rated from 16,000- to 20,000-lb. and Meritor’s 44,000- and 46,000-lb. heavy duty tandem-drive rear axles.
The Meritor MFS20 front axles and the Meritor MT-44 and RT-46 series tandem drive rear axles for the T370 can be spec’d with the Paccar PX-9 engine rated up to 350-hp and 1,150 lb-ft of torque.
Jason Skoog, Kenworth assistant general manager for sales and marketing, says the expanded axle offering will makes the T370 more viable for a broader range of vocational applications that require 20K front and 46K rear suspensions such as dump, fuel, utility, crane, service trucks, or mixers
“… with the higher-capacity Meritor front axles, customers can have more of the payload’s weight shifted to the steer axle and still take advantage of the T370’s short bumper-to-back-of-cab (BBC) measurement,” he adds.
The MFS20 front axles, available with 16,000-, 18,000-, and 20,000-lb. gross axle weight ratings, include a heavy-duty, cross-brace-reinforced front frame assembly, bolted cross members and either 10 5/8-inch frame rails with insert or 10 3/4-inch frame rails. Full inserts are available for both of these rail sizes. Iron hubs, drum brakes, and dual-power steering gears, along with a power steering cooler, complete the lighter engine/higher-capacity front axle combination.
According to Meritor, the MFS20 features an optimized turning radius to provide sharper wheel cut and increased maneuverability. Plus, Meritor says its robust EasySteer king pin, bushings and optimized I-beam construction deliver longer life for axles and tires, proven durability and superior vehicle control. Special low-friction bushings, double draw keys and integral thrust-bearing and seal designs provide for easier maintenance and lower operating costs.
Meritor’s 44,000-lb. MT-44 rear axle and 46,000-lb RT-46 rear axle both retain a broad range of gear ratios, which enables customers to tailor them to meet their needs. A rugged, single-piece carrier design supports precise gear alignment and a low-maintenance tandem design extends the range up to 500,000 miles between lube changes.
Along with the new Meritor axles, the Kenworth T370 is now available with heavy-duty rear suspensions rated up to 46,000 pounds from a variety of leading suppliers in either spring or air configurations.