Diff Locks ????

Hi Mark,
Short and sweet mate...go the AIR LOCKER (ARB). Nothing else comes close. Even though it is over priced, but thats what happens when they are on a winner, they can charge whatever they want.
I have one in my front diff, has saved me a few times i can tell you. I will be adding a rear one as soon as i collect some cash too.
Regards Angelo

Mark,

With the mechanical lockers they are on at all times and only disengae when required, ie turning a corner, going around a round-about etc, so that when you are off road yuo don't have to manually lock them in. Normally you don't feel them engaging/disengaging but sometimes you do and it can be a minor clunk to major shudder/clunk. The first time this happens it is a bit of a shock.

Also with a mechanical lockers it is not advisable to fit them to the front diff of a constant 4WD such as Landcruisers etc as it make for heavy front end steering. It's not so bad on vehicles such Patrols where you have to manually lock you hubs because this should only be done once you are off road any way.

With air lockers you have the choice of when and which diff locker to engage etc but they do cost a lot more than manual lockers and I suppose you get what you pay for. I have a Lockrite in the rear diff of my 80 Series Landcruiser and I am more than happy with it - I can't afford the air lockers.

The choice is yours but remeber ARB sell ARB products and will push theirs over others as well as the other retailers. Shop around for advice from members of 4WD clubs, other 4WD drivers and forums like this and hopefully you will get the good advice needed.

Well advised above!

On a side point, of course ARB are going to say steer away from mechanical and vice versa.

However, I asked this question the other day and I estimate around 85% of people were very satisfied with ARB Lockers. It's nice to switch them off to recover your steering. They will do you warranty in on which ever diff you stick them in if you have that to worry about. Plus, you'll have the extra expense of air compressor.

A member on this site got me a fantastic price delivered to my door and if you give me your email address, i'll pass the details on, he should be able to help you out, should you decide on the arb air locker.

cheers,

chris.

Why not learn where your truck can take you first, it may suprise you.

Lockers may get you out of some situations, but they will also get you into MORE trouble by getting you further into the bog/mud/crap/hill etc.

YMMV

PS. ARB is the best, you turn on/off as Coke said.

I would have to aggree with Truckster, you will be supprised where your truck will take you without lockers.

I have a FJ55 that I started with, it has completely open diffs and it took me to places that I thought I would never have been able to go.

The most important thing I have learnt is that it is not the lockers that are important it's the traction. Originally had old worn out A/T's and had problems gettings out of some holes but when I got a set of Muddies could go in and out of the same places that I got stuck in before.

This is not to say don't buy lockers (Ihave front and rear ARB lockers in my new 80 series) it is to say go out and see what your truck can do with a good set of tyres and then see if you need lockers for what you want to do.

Tony N.

mark L
if arb working they are great-actually gives u true 4wd
think u may find arb are having a few manufacturing problems at moment and im not saying this to sway u away from them either.
when there is a problem with them they have been ok to deal with
had them in 80 series for 5 yrs and only problem was compressor failing twice(once in desert and once before challenging hill) and oil coming out from solenoid
had them installed in 100 series and rear one failed day after installation(internal seal) and next trip after rear fixed the front one inoperable(tba outcome)
they tell me the compressor these days is much better thn 5yrs ago-only time will tell
there is another mob in moorabbin who do air lockers as well-cant think of name at moment but if u do search on internet u will find
about 1k more than arb
could possibly go detroit locker in rear and arb front locker so that way if one fails u still have 3 wheels turning.
tough choice to make
as said before if no problems arb are great

Marl L,
I've never used anything other than air lockers, me personally I love them, they're great, I've been using them for five or so years, I had a bit of a problem with oil coming back from the locker into the solenoid, the internal O-ring was replaced at no charge,no problem after that, they still worked ok.
You tend to get yourself into more problems and tend to get to places others with standard gear can't get to so recovery on that rare occasion that you do get stuck starts to be an issue. I've found them very reliable and would always go that way. Learning to drive with them is also a steep learning curve in some situations if you aren't aware of how your vehicle will react with the lockers in it can be quite scary, straight lines become very hard to break away from.

Speaking to an ARB rep the other day about this oil problem and Air Lockers and was informed that apparently a mod has been made to all new Lockers now that cures this problem.

Thanks for all the feedback, great to hear comments about both types of diff locks, i have a '92 4Runner and it has taken me to some amazing places already, but on our last outing, we were reasonably heavy with gear, going up a steep, slippery sandstone hill we kept losing traction, had to back down the hill and give it some momentum, dont want to do that to often, any, i will talk to a few more people, and if ARB have fixed the o-ring issue, i think ill head down the ARB path, Thanks again

I run a mechanical locker in the rear & a air locker in the front .