Gabriel announced it has developed an improved misting reduction seal for its heavy-duty shock products. The seal is now available in the company’s FleetLine commercial truck, trailer, and bus shocks and GasSLX adjustable shocks, the company added.
“We wanted to solve one of the main problems that fleet operators believed to be an inevitable headache: oil escape from shock absorbers,” said Joan McMath, director of OE, Service, and HD sales at Gabriel. “With the introduction of the enhanced misting reduction seal technology to our GasSLX and FleetLine products, we have proven that it is possible to reduce misting significantly in shock absorbers, and therefore to keep customers’ fleets on the road more consistently.”
The demanding conditions present in heavy-duty vehicle applications cause misting in all shock absorbers over time. Misting occurs when the oil within the shock absorber slowly leaks out of a seal in the product, cots the outside of the shock absorber, and accumulates dust and debris. This oil escape causes diminished shock absorbing capabilities and eventual product failure, according to the company.
“With Gabriel’s improved misting-reduction seal technology, oil escape is reduced by up to 70% over time,” the company said. “This leads to extended service life for the company’s heavy-duty shock absorbers, as well as improved performance over time as compared to competing technologies.”