ArvinMeritor Launches New Line of Center Support Bearings
ArvinMeritor Inc. (USA), in an assault on the increasingly commoditized center support market, has launched a new line of patent-pending center support bearings under the Meritor Gold trademark.
The first two items offered in the line fit all of the most popular heavy truck and tractor applications for Spicer 1710/17N and 1810/18N series.
Meritor Gold center supports use a spherical outer race, self-aligning ball bearing in a standard type rubber cushion design. The self-aligning bearings, however, allow up to five degrees of shaft deflection during operation without affecting bearing or cushion life. At the same time, the new bearings offer superior sealing without the need for separate slingers. Integral deflectors are plated in gold tone to distinguish the units from standard versions.
The new center supports carry suffix -SA, CB210121-1X-SA for Spicer 1710/17N series with 1.9685"/1.9680" ID (industry HB88510) and CB210661-1X-SA for the Spicer 1810/18N series with 2.3622"/2.3616" ID (industry HB88512A).
With aftermarket prices of standard-line center support bearings continuing to fall (1710 units are widely available with street prices under $30 and 1810 units under $40), ArvinMeritor has positioned the new units as a premium solution, hoping to establish a separate -- and much higher -- price point and perceived quality hurdle for competitors.