Product Spotlight: Bearings: Bearings improve fuel efficiency

“Twin tandem” four-row angular contact ball bearings for SUV and light-truck wheel-hub assemblies reduce fuel consumption and carbon- dioxide output by as much as 1.5% (10.6 gallons and 149 lb of CO2 /yr). This design replaces each row of tapered rollers with two ball rolls to create a fourrow ball system that lowers rib and bearing friction by as much as 50%. This results in lower operating temperatures and longer bearing-lubricant service life. Designers can implement these bearings with minimal reengineering of the vehicle hub system and existing manufacturing processes.

Users can save additional fuel on the powertrain side by replacing traditional plain-bearing camshafts with needle bearings, which have better friction characteristics.

Schaeffler Group USA Inc., 1750 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, MI 48083, (248) 528-4822, ina.com