Kenworth Truck Company (Kirkland, Washington) has made Dana Spicer's Low Maintenance System (LMS) front hub bearing and seal package standard equipment on all Class 8 trucks.

LMS is an entire wheel-end package which has been available for several years from Dana Spicer. In the system, precision-machined hubs are fitted with Timken bearings, a matching spacer to maintain fitup and preload, Dana-specified grease, then sealed by Dana's Outrunner™ seals.

With that combination, the LMS package is certified for off-highway or on-highway use, carrying a 350,000 mile or 3-year warranty. During the warranty period, the bearings and seals should never need attention.

The original version of the LMS wheel-end assembly is marketed by Gunite Corporation (Rockford, Illinois). Gunite™ precision-machined iron hubs are used in those applications, assembled by Gunite and then sold directly to OEMs. They have the same 3-year / 350,000 mile specifications and warranty.

In the new Kenworth applications, however, the iron hubs have been replaced by ConMet aluminum alloy hubs manufactured and precision machined by Consolidated Metco Inc. (Portland, Oregon; a division of Amsted Industries).

These aluminum alloy hubs, produced in ConMet's Rivergate facility, are 22 pounds lighter than the cast iron versions.

The inner and outer bearings for all applications are Timken HM518445-HM518410 (Set 415).