A.R.B Air Lockers - Your Advice

ARB lockers are about the best you can get. Generally very low maintenance and very reliable. Had front and rear on my previous GQ and the only problem I had was with the front one, which developed an ocassional leak (in the diff part) and would not always engage. Haven't heard of this happening all that often and ARB now recommends a particular grade of oil I believe to better lubricate the seals.

If you intend to go only one, then the decision as to whether to put it in the front or rear can raise all sorts of arguments. Since the Nissans have such good LSDs, I'd be predisposed to put the locker in the front. That way you 'almost' have two lockers for the price of one.

The latest compressor is not at all noisy, so having it under the seat should be OK (and gives it clean air). It only runs ocassionally to keep the air tank up to pressure.

Hi Chris

I fitted front and rear ARB Airlockers to my 79 series and you'd never know they were there until you need them. The only noise you get is the compressor when you first turn it on it has to build up pressure then it cuts out, it will only come back on if you are locking and unlocking the diff. once its locked in or locked out the compressor stops.

I think there great wouldn't hesitate to put them on another vehicle

Mate works for ARB, runs his compressor for his lockers under his drivers seat. Best place for it, cool clean air away from dirt, dust and shiat in the engine bay.

Another place people are runnign them, is inside the rear panels in the storage area.

YMMV

Have ARB Locker fitted front and rear to my 80 Series.

Was a bit of a journey to get it right, wrong seal fitted in rear locker, but ARB worked on it until I was happy with it.

Have noticed that they don't disengage straight away especially when loaded going up a hill and needing to do a sharp turn.

Would recomend the ARB lockers as the compressor is good and the performance is great.

Also have a friend who has them in his 100 Series with a spare air tank fitted to the system as well.

Tony N.

I 'av 'em and I luv 'em.

Gaz

Hi Chris,
Air locker was the best thing i ever had fitted to my 4b. Although, and its not a real negative ..BUT... I should have kept the MAX AIR compressor rather than have the ARB one installed, AIR MAX was so much faster at everything. If I did more serious offroading i wouldnt hesitate to have another fitted in rear diff. From one works well for what i do. Got me up some hills that i wouldnt have been able to climb without it..
Cheers Angelo

Gday Chris,

As others have said Air Lockers do transform the vehicle. Had mine fitted by ARB and have had no problems with them in my LC100.

Personally I would NOT put the compressor under the seat but thats a personal choice. Being air lockers you will be turning them on and off quite a bit if your in that sort of terrain and the compressor is reasonably loud/harsh.

Good Luck

Haz

Chris not to put a dampner on the above but I talked to 3 people in the cape this year and they had trouble with there arb lockers .
2 peoples compressors fellapart.
1 person had a leak from a hose and the locker wouldnt lock in.
Peter had 2 away with him in the canning last year same problems as above.
When your a long way from home it is a pain in the butt.

All the best
Eric
www.capeyorkconnections.com.au

Chris,
I have ARB lockers front and rear in my 80 series. They were fitted in '97 and are still working fine 7 years later.

Chris

I recently had a front locker put into the TD6 wagon. Under bonnet space is tight and the only reliable place I could find for the compressor is under the passengers seat.

After a bit of a trip and 6 weeks later, the underside of the passengers seat is covered with diff oil.

"Appararently" there is a problem with some of the air lockers and ARB is fixing the problem, but I have not heard yet how mine is going to be fixed. Also, it does not really work all that well in dune county where there is typically a tight turn into the base of the dune. The locked wheels sap the motor of power and momentum is lost.

It does otherwise work well but you might also consider a detroit if you have a GU or similar with part time four wheel drive.

Dumb quastion.

Can diff locks be engaged on the run or does the vehicle need to be stationary.?

From memory, as long as not going crazy on the loud pedal, on the run. Better leave it till you hear from the Roachie or the truckster of the world...