A lightweight heavy-duty axle hubcap, the Dana Spicer LMS, is made of polymer vents wheel ends and eliminates filter membranes or open ports that can clog or cause contamination, according to bearing and elastomeric product supplier SKF. Developed with Dana Corp.’s Commercial Vehicle Systems group, the new hubcap will become part of the Dana Spicer Low Maintenance System used on the company’s steer and trailer axles.
The SKF hubcap has a multiple labyrinth design that can protect wheel end bearing lubrication from water even when subjected to high-pressure washing systems, the company said. In addition to the new venting design and high-strength polymer construction, the hubcap includes a magnetized side-fill plug to capture metallic particles in the lubricant.