KamAZ 5460. Characteristics, main advantages and disadvantages of the tractor

The KamAZ-5460 truck tractor, which appeared in 2003, became the debut 40-ton truck produced by the Kama Automobile Plant. The model was adapted to operate with European trailers. Prior to this, the model list of the Kama enterprise consisted of a 6x4 wheel base, where there was a high seat position and relatively low power.

Drivers who drove such a wheel arrangement, frankly speaking, felt discomfort, because they needed a more productive car that could compete with MAZs and European analogues. Therefore, the management decided to launch the debut vehicle with the marking 5460 from the beginning of 2003. The entire KamAZ model range.

Car history

The earliest KamAZ trucks with the marking 5460, which came off the assembly line, were developed on the platform of the already known vehicle - 6520. The wheel formula of the vehicle was modernized. Instead of a 6x4, which is inconvenient for European trailers, a car with a 4x2 base. Initially, the suspension was made to be a full leaf spring, but very soon it went into oblivion, and a new air suspension was installed on the rear axle.

Thanks to the air suspension, it was possible to lower the seat height to 1.2 meters. Despite the fact that it was assembled on the territory of the Russian Federation, its elements were fully borrowed - the cylinders were ordered from Hungary, and the WABCO pneumatic control system was ordered from Germany.

KamAZ 5460 began to be equipped with foreign parts, which significantly increased its quality and reliability, and at the same time, provided the opportunity to be competitive in the automotive market.

Later, a tractor model appeared, released in 2010 under the KamAZ 5460-046-22 “Stayer” label. The car was modernized, and it had a low-speed diesel power unit KamAZ-740.37-400, which, as you might guess from the name, developed up to 400 horsepower and was equipped with a fuel system manufactured by Bosch.

The improved engine met Euro-3 environmental standards. The power unit, as before, was synchronized with a 16-speed ZF gearbox. The rear part of the bridge was replaced with a brand new high-speed hypoid brand, produced by the Bulgarian company Madara. The 2015 models look very impressive, so you can’t immediately tell that this is not a foreign car.

Appearance

Initially, after restyling, one immediately notices the presence of a different radiator grille with built-in side fairings, which help reduce turbulence on the side, and the doors don’t get so dirty. The updated front bumper has improved lighting technology and towing eyes that can be screwed in.

It was also noted that there are new running boards, which have lattice linings, which make it much easier to climb into the interior of the tractor. Road modifications include a brand new fairing mounted on the roof of the cab. Together with restyled body parts, this helps to increase the aerodynamic component of the car and reduce fuel consumption.

KamAZ 5460-046-22, like KamAZ 5460-066-33, received the installation of a three-brush windshield wiper, which ensures a tight fit of the brushes over a huge area of ​​glass cleaning. There are, of course, the presence of plastic elements, but they are all installed in their places, rooted to the spot.

They are produced by the local company RIAT together with a Turkish company. The new KamAZ 5460 tractor has a hydraulic lift, which the design team moved from behind the wing behind the right leg, down. As a standard lever, the hydraulic lift is equipped with a mounting tool, which is located in the tool box on the chassis.

Before getting into the cabin, you can note that the cabin door can be opened unusually softly, and the door handles are not made of steel, but of plastic. In fact, instead of a standard rotary lock, which, as often happens, requires constant repair and adjustment, they installed locks from a VAZ 2108 car.

Also, if previously the steps on the running boards were made of metal, now they are made of plastic, and from under the bumper you can see a dark strip, which is a steel underrun bar, just like a European tractor. It is noticeable that the models of 2015 have changed a lot for the better.

Peculiarities

The KamAZ-5460 truck tractor has come closer to its European counterparts, both externally and technically. Although in some respects it is inferior to them, for the Kama Automobile Plant, which for a long time used developments from the 1970s in almost all of its trucks, this is indeed a very big leap. In addition, the 740 series engines were modernized, resulting in an unprecedented power of 420 horsepower.

The KamAZ-5460 model itself has a large number of positive reviews. As the owners note, the tractor turned out to be very dynamic and very high-torque. The power of even the weakest configuration is quite enough to overcome even long, protracted climbs. The braking system works very effectively. With the arrival of new cabins, the level of comfort in the cabin has increased significantly, although some owners note cheap plastic. Thermal and noise insulation has also been improved. The new cabins have a modern and quite stylish look.

The tractor is highly reliable, which is what any long-haul model should have. The service life of the engines is an impressive 800 thousand kilometers for the 740 series, and some of them can cover a million.

Despite the introduction of a lot of changes to the model, its design remained quite simple and understandable. The cost of spare parts and other consumables is much cheaper than for European tractors. Thanks to this, KamAZ-5460 is still very popular among cargo carriers. Another undeniable advantage of this tractor is its excellent adaptation to Russian operating conditions. This means, of course, the quality of diesel fuel, and the road surface, which in some regions really leaves much to be desired.

By the way, as for the cost of the tractor itself, this parameter is much lower than similar foreign-made models.

Cabin interior

When you get into the cabin of a brand new KamAZ, you notice the presence of comfortable seats with air suspension. They were produced in Yelabuga. It is also possible to install other seat variations produced by RIAT from the city of Chelny, as well as Pilot.

The instrument panel received a plastic finish, and many people know it, because this is exactly the equipment that cars that meet Euro-3 standards receive. The level of the plastic itself and the assembly itself is at the proper level. Thanks to the new dashboard panel, which was produced by the Russian-American company, an anti-glare film appeared.

But, unfortunately, the screen itself has not yet been Russified. Those who have been to the Dakar KamAZ know the unique operation of the handbrake crane - it functions not from top to bottom, but from left to right. Most likely, the engineers decided to install a handbrake on the 5460 model of exactly the same design, which is a little unusual for drivers.

There is also another small drawback - the toggle switch for pneumatic adjustment of the steering column is located just under the parking brake lever. This option can be very inconvenient on the road. In order to sit comfortably behind the steering wheel, even an experienced driver will need some ingenuity. There are also undoubted advantages of the restyled cabin, for example, the fact that there is a second full-fledged bed on gas struts instead of the outdated bed.

What is even more important is the suspension of the cabin itself, which has already become a four-point pneumatic with ZF Sachs parts. It was introduced not only for a smoother ride, but also to ensure safety. At the time when the launch of the updated cabin began, KAMAZ’s investment project for restyling the paint work began.

A second full-fledged sleeping place has appeared

The implementation proceeded smoothly over 4 years. An agreement with the company on the supply of elements for painting lines was signed back in 2006. The first stage, which lasted until November 2007, made it possible to install equipment for preparing the surfaces of cabin elements and their cataphoresis primer.

The working chambers of the painting line were launched in the spring of 2008, and the secondary primer painting chamber with a drying chamber began to be used by the end of 2009. The last, 4th stage, made it possible to install a finishing coating painting chamber with a drying chamber. Now the functionality of the line was 75,000 cabins/year, however, this is not the limit; work can be increased to 125,000 cabins/year.

Undoubtedly, it could not have happened without financial investments, which amounted to 1,500,000,000 rubles. Experts say that thanks to the introduction of the Dürr line, it was possible to increase the corrosion resistance of painted cabin elements by 3 times. It will also provide improved quality and significantly reduce manual labor using twelve robotic painting systems.

Second modernization, 2010

First of all, it was necessary to change the cabin: they had already “squeezed everything that was possible” out of the old one. And it was impossible, with all the desire, to convert the cabin of a predominantly construction dump truck from the 70s into the cabin of a modern long-haul tractor. In search of the optimal option for a new “long-range” cab of increased volume with a full-fledged four-point air suspension, KamAZ negotiated with MAN to purchase a license for the production of the TGA cab. But it didn’t work out: it didn’t go beyond a few copies. Apparently due to the high cost of the product.

KamAZ-5460 with MAN TGA cab.

The second attempt was to install on KamAZ tractors for several years the cab of the discontinued MAN F2000, which was produced under license by the Chinese at the Shaanxi (now Shacman) plant. And then launch production of completely new cabins: an order for their development was placed in South Korea, and production launch is scheduled for 2013.

KamAZ-5460 with MAN F2000 / Shaanxi cab

However, these plans were crossed out: in 2008, a fateful deal took place with Daimler: Daimler AG bought a 10% stake in KamAZ for $250 million and received a seat on the board of directors, and in return the Russian manufacturer was given the opportunity to purchase licenses for production and use for their trucks with German components and assemblies. First of all, the cabins are from the previous generation Mercedes-Benz Axor.

By the time the modernized KamAZ-5460 with a Mercedes cab was launched into production, the KamAZ investment project to update production had already been implemented and started working. During 2007-2009, an automated line for priming, painting and drying cabin parts from the Dürr company was launched, costing 1.5 billion rubles, with a capacity of 75 thousand cabins per year, with the possibility of increasing output to 125 thousand.

KamAZ-5460 with Mercedes Axor cab.

In 2013, KamAZ-5460 gave way in the plant’s production program to its successor, the KamAZ-5490 long-haul tractor.

Specifications

Power unit

The updated truck was supplied with a KAMAZ-740.64-420 engine, which produced 420 horsepower and met Euro-3 standards. The well-known company Bosch was responsible for the Common Rail injection system. There was also the presence of an electronic control unit, which was installed in front, in the camber of the block.

The latter was produced not on Hungarian soil, as before, but by Chinese specialists. Power units that come with the Common Rail fuel system are currently produced in small quantities. Along with the modernization of the fuel mechanism, the restyled 740 family also acquired a whole list of other upgrades.

For example, they began to use the latest material for the cylinder block, ChVG35 cast iron, which contains vermicular graphite. This made it possible to increase the strength of the main body of the element and reduce the noise level of the operating motor by 0.1 - 1.5 dBa. Also, together with specialists from Federal Mogul, structural transformations of the cylinder and pistons elements were carried out.

The alloys that are used have become more innovative, and technologies have been introduced to apply a special chrome-diamond coating to the piston rings. Also, in order to increase the service life of engines that produced about 400 horsepower or more, they introduced a method of carbonitriding the crankshaft. Improvements also affected the lubrication and cooling systems.

The oil heat exchanger now had an increased heat transfer plane. Also, the design team was able to change the shape of the cylinder head, taking into account the installation of fuel injectors and use a one-piece flywheel housing that meets the SAE1 standard. But after restyling, KamAZ trucks still came with power units and the absence of Common Rail (KAMAZ-740.50-360 with a volume of 11.76 and a power of 360 horses, where the piston stroke was increased to 130 mm).

The engine received significant improvements and was able to perform well during long trips. Its increased power made it possible to feel more confident on the road and not be afraid of overloads.

Transmission

Following the example of similar models from Europe, KamAZ specialists in a similar case synchronized their own power unit, designed for 420 horsepower, with the ZF AS-Tronic automatic gearbox. In European countries, a similar gearbox is installed on MAN TGA/TGX, DAF XF and Iveco Stralis truck tractors.

Therefore, it is logical to conclude that the clutch pedal is simply missing. The joystick for setting the box was borrowed from DAF saddle trucks, but its console with the ability to switch modes was already produced at the KAMAZ enterprise.

Speeds, as they should, are switched in such a way that it is hard to notice, and the car itself accelerates smoothly. If the car is loaded, it accelerates confidently, despite the 20-ton semi-trailer, eliminating possible jerks and vibrations.

For the first time, Kamaz installed an automatic gearbox in a truck, which functions without problems, changing gears smoothly and almost imperceptibly.

The clutch is a diaphragm single-disk and has a hydraulic drive with a pneumatic booster. Today, the main-line tractor, whose name is 5460, comes only in a two-axle version. Moreover, the rear axle is from the Chinese brand FAW.

But in the future, KAMAZ wants to assemble a three-axle variation of the vehicle, with a spring suspension at the rear, so that it can work together with a dump semi-trailer or transport very heavy loads. Then the chassis will be equipped with axles from Hungary, the Madara company, or Chelny production.

Brake system

The brake system is a pneumatic drive with drum mechanisms.
The drum diameter is 420 millimeters, the width of the brake linings is 180 millimeters. Technical characteristics of KAMAZ 5460 (4x2)

Power unit

The model was equipped with engines produced by the Kama enterprise. The updates affected KamAZ-740.64-420 diesel engines. Now they were equipped with turbocharging and charge air cooling.

The basis of the Common Rail system was components manufactured by Bosch. Design changes were introduced by an electronic control unit made in China. Vermicular graphite was used to produce the cylinder block. Due to this, the strength qualities of the case have significantly increased.

Working together with specialists from the Federal Mogul company, the engineers of the Kama plant managed to develop and make changes to the constituent elements of the pistons and cylinders. The modernization has qualitatively imprinted on the characteristics of the power unit.

A diesel engine 740.37-400 with intermediate charge air cooling is available. For companies operating KamAZ 5460, technical characteristics and fuel consumption have become advantageous aspects.

Cost and options

Saddle-type trucks KamAZ 5460 046 22 and KamAZ 5460 066 33 may vary in price category due to their inherent technical characteristics. Thus, more “adult” models can be purchased from 1,900,000 to 2,500,000 rubles. Cars with a brand new cabin and various additions and improvements can reach a price tag of 4,258,000 rubles.

Cars marked 5460-260066-73 will also cost 4,258,620 rubles. It includes the presence of a 10.5-liter 400-horsepower power unit, with two berths. A modification of KamAZ 5460 63 is also provided.

Flaws. Truck modification

Advantages and disadvantages

Pros of the car

• No hood, which improves visibility;
• Load capacity;
• Good ride height;
• The car is not difficult to operate and repair;
• There are no problems with purchasing parts and spare parts;
• The company’s relatively small pricing policy for this car;
• Good power units;
• High-quality gearbox (there are options with automatic transmission);
• The latest cabins have a pleasant appearance, characterized by style and modernity, which the domestic auto industry simply did not have before;
• Good lighting system;
• Improved interior with elaborate elements;
• Comfortable seats;
• Good steering column setup;
• Improved aerodynamic component of the cabin;
• New suspension, which is much better than the previous one;
• The cabin received pneumatic cushions, which increases the comfort in the cabin;
• We worked on noise insulation;
• The rear suspension also received air suspension, allowing the seat to be lowered even lower;
• Improved instrument panel;
• Convenient gear shifting;
• There are sleeping places;
• Good dynamic characteristics;
• Availability of an autonomous cabin heater.

Cons of the car

• Despite the huge leap in terms of design and interior in the restyled model 5460, domestic cars still fall short of foreign versions;
• Over time, questions arise regarding the quality and assembly of the interior and the car as a whole;
• The seats could be more comfortable, like those of foreign cars;
• In the cabin I would like to see better quality and nicer plastic.

Let's sum it up

After the latest updates, the KamAZ-5460 long-haul tractor can easily be confused with a foreign car. And for this we must give credit to the design team, which, it must be admitted, really did a great job. Now there are very few links between the model and previous KamAZ models (old versions of the cab).

The radiator grille has become much nicer and more functional, and the headlights have improved properties. The cabin itself received pneumatic airbags, increasing comfort. The same can be said about the rear suspension, which also has air bags that smooth out the main irregularities on the road.

Much work has been done on the power unit, which has become very powerful and copes with its duties excellently, providing good dynamics. The gearbox works great with the engine, especially the automatic one, there are no jerks or jerks. It became much more pleasant to be inside.

A full-fledged double bed appeared, the seats received a comfortable air suspension. The dashboard is informative, and all the car controls are nearby, so there will be no need to be distracted from the road to change any car settings.

It is noticeable that the Kama Automobile Plant has made a noticeable and confident step forward. You immediately understand that the company does not want to sit back and wants to be competitive in the cutthroat automotive market. I would like to hope that it will develop and improve further.

We advise you to read the article: KAMAZ - cars of the era

Ashot Harutyunyan

Ashot Harutyunyan, Marketing and Advertising Director of KAMAZ OJSC
Ashot Harutyunyan, Marketing and Advertising Director of KAMAZ OJSC

“The restyled KAMAZ-5460 truck tractor will compete with long-haul tractors, primarily in the capacious segment of the Russian market - tractors for domestic transportation. To save costs for our clients, new solutions have been introduced that have made the vehicle more powerful, faster and more economical, increased its service life, reduced costs for fuel and spare parts, and reduced the weight of the vehicle, as a result of which more cargo can be transported. The presence of an extensive network of authorized service is the most important competitive advantage of KAMAZ OJSC. A wide service network (138 service centers) covers the territory of the entire Russian Federation, providing the necessary service for the KAMAZ-5460 long-haul tractor.

Restyling of KAMAZ-5460 is one of the important stages in the development of the car. The next efforts to develop the KAMAZ-5460 will be aimed at further improving performance indicators, increasing service life, reducing the cost of ownership, and also, most importantly, improving working conditions for the driver - it is planned to master the production of a tractor with a new cab.”

KamAZ-5460 photo

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