Meritor has announced its new MX-610™ front-drive and MZ-610™ tridem rear axle for multiple severe-duty applications. “The front-drive steer axle and tridem are the next-generation axle combinations from our award-winning 610/P600 series and two of many new products Meritor is bringing to market as part of the company’s M2019 growth initiative,” said Tony Nicol, Vice President, Front & Rear Drivetrain, Europe for Meritor. “Our state-of-the-art manufacturing and assembly system delivers the quality our customers expect for severe-duty applications.”

Built to operate in extreme conditions, the MZ-610 tridem offers wide-ranging axle ratings and high ground clearance as well gross axle weight rating (GAWR) of 60 t and gross combination weight (GCW) of 210 t.

The MX-610 is designed to fit ELSA®™ disc brakes in a double-caliper configuration to offer high-rated torque with compact packaging. Its small product envelop is capable of mounting 20-in wheel rims and offers a steering angle up to 42 degrees. A detachable tandem is optional.

Meritor’s new proportioning inter-axle differential delivers even torque split between the three axles to maximize traction, load capacity and longevity of the drivetrain. With five differential locks and hardware for optional central tire inflation systems (CTIS), the MZ-610 is equipped for the most demanding applications.

The MZ-610 tridem’s wide ratio coverage from 4.11 to 7.21 with standard drum or disc brakes delivers safety and performance for vehicles operating in extreme conditions. The faster ratios support downspeeding to reduce fuel consumption.

“High tractive force in all driving conditions increases vehicle productivity,” Nicol said. “An optimized design delivers high power density to handle greater payloads and offers durability and reliability that improves uptime.”

As with previous P610 and P600 products, the MX- and MZ-610 were developed for global markets and validated at Meritor’s worldclass technical centre in Cameri, Italy.