A line of wheel seals from Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies (Freudenberg-NOK) helps heavy-duty vehicles achieve higher fuel economy, longer service life and increased wheel durability, the company said.
The MileMaker wheel seals are made of an advanced, proprietary material that reduces friction and lowers torque 50% more than competitors’ seals, resulting in an average fuel savings of $1,000 per commercial truck and trailer combination over the life of the seals, Freudenberg-NOK said, based on a typical commercial configuration of 10 seals – six on a truck and four on a trailer – each generating $100 in savings on $4 per gallon diesel fuel over 500,000 miles.
“Our MileMaker seals offer enormous potential in helping our commercial truck and trailer customers meet escalating demands for better fuel economy, lower emissions, reduced maintenance costs and longer operating life in harsh, unpredictable environments,” said Torsten Maschke, president, automotive sales and marketing, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies. “MileMaker seals are part of our comprehensive Low Emission Sealing Solutions portfolio of products that address overall fuel economy and emissions challenges in all vehicles.
Freudenberg-NOK uses an advanced elastomer to produce the MileMaker seals. The material withstands higher operating temperatures of up to 350 deg. F and is compatible with mineral and synthetic oils, and grease lubricants. In addition, the seals have an integrated lathed, ground and polished wear sleeve running surface that reduces friction, lowers torque and promotes a cooler running surface for the main lip seal.
The MileMaker seal also incorporates patented dirt exclusion fins that assist with keeping contamination away from the seal. The lubed rubber OD (outer diameter) and ID (inner diameter) design eases installation force, which results in less heat generation and increased seal life, and seals any minor hubs or spindle imperfections. The seal design has low internal torque aided by an internal lubricant, which translates to lower internal heat generation, excellent wear resistance and improved fuel economy.
