Air Lockers, Front or Rear??

ARB wouldn't give you a warranty, mate of mine just went down the same track and ended up fitting arb compressor. Makes no difference but if push came to shove, I know that the expense of repairing busted airlocker/diff and/or associated parts, I'd prefer to have peace of mind.

I have run both, front will give you 100% on your 4wd's capability and 100% more into trouble if you don't have the experience...there is a story from my first install 10 or so year back and a subsequent 4 hour recovery. Feel that front will give better performance than rear.

If you can't decide, tell swmbo that you can't run one without the other ;-)

The Isuzu LSD is excellent and helped me out in many a situation. I would keep it and put the locker in the front. I can't understand why they cant offer a warranty on everything appart from the compressor.

Leroy

Often warranty's arent' worth the paper their printed on IMO.

One thing I do know, is that if you are running bigger tyres than stock standard, then you are giving ARB an warranty escape clause. You have been warned!

Adam,
So far I would have to disagree with the posts so far. The LSD is limited and will not give you 100% drive to the rear wheels all the time. When engaged the locker will give you 100% drive to both back wheels even if one wheel is off the ground with out the need to load up the diff, in other words you can go a lot slower. As you would know if the front locker is engaged the steering is very hard to impossibe,so trying to round a bend with the front locker under load will result in some form of damage. When climbing a rutted hill all the weight is on the back wheels and the front becomes very light with very little grip coming from thr front wheels. With the locker in the back where most the drive is you will get the most out of the locker.
When it comes to going down a steep and rutted hill the rear locker can be used to hold the vehicle back when one wheel leaves the ground and the vehicle tends to skip away.
Nissan, when they supplied factory lockers only had the rear
Toyota, only supply a rear locker to the 100 series and when they supplied both lockers the rear locker had to be engaged before the front
ARB have the lockers wired up so that if both lockers are fitted the rear one has to be engaged first.
Fitting a front locker only can be done but the amount of time that it would get used in the front only would not warrent the expense.

Wayne

Adam,

Your choice is limited anyway. To put in a rear air locker on a 2001 will require replacement of the rear diff 3rd member to the 98-99 type, I'm guessing that will cost you an extra $500 at least.

So if the rear LSD is doing well, then just get the front one done.

Thanks Everyone

Great food for the thinking..

Price tp fits was $1512 plus the compressor ($430). I will ask about the diff change, thanks Savvas.

Cheers All

Adam

Crazie, I see you run 265/75s on your jack. Do you have a lift and are there any problems with rubbing when bouncing around on full lock? I wanted small clearance increase by going to 245/75 instead of 245/70 but Bridgestone dont make a 694 in that size and that's the tyre I wanted.

Also, petrol or diesel and any difference to power/torque/economy with the bigger tyres?

D-Jack

Have to say if your happy with how your LSD is working then put your locker in the front, and then if you want latter down the track you can put one in the back.

Crazie,

A friend of mine (Markaroo) on this site has a 99 3.5V6 auto Jacks, he has arb locker in front and it is great. The traction his has is excellent indeed.

Go front - Greg

Just a couple of thoughts.

I have front and rear lockers. ARB wont put front lockers only in an IFS LC100 due to the weakness in the front diff.

So I have never been able to test performance with front lockers only.

If I could only afford 1 locker and had a good LSD in the rear I'd definately go for the front locker.

I have been surprised how manoeuvrable the truck is with both lockers engaged. So don't be put off by comments suggesting steering is seriously hampered. True if you are going at speed and want to turn quickly to avoid something then you'll probably hit it. At a more controlled pace you will be able to steer just as tight a circle as you would with no lockers. However the harder the surface the greater effect on steering.

I have never been in a situation where lockers are needed and I have been going at such a speed that there was any risk. If you know your truck and its limitations then you'll be fine. - Oh and be prepared for unavoidable temptation to "try them out" which can be code for taking the truck in places you'ld never go otherwise and getting stuck anyway *grin*

gaz

Mate i know your pain, i was having a good chat with the guys at arb northern the other day while picking up my bullbar, and i sussed out the option of a front locker for mine - not available for my 98 model :-((( I'm not going to muck about changing diff setups etc. and might fit a rear locker if my lsd goes shiza one day. But judging by how it went in the sandy tracks at the 'holes' south of Sale yesterday the lsd works fine ' sideways sally ' out of every corner. Fitting 265/75 MTR's tomorrow , that should fix any traction probs for a while :-))) .

BTW - from sunbury to sale at 120 early morning, returned 12.1 L/100. i'll see what diference fitting the bigger rubber makes, and i have to fit a cruize control as well as my leg gets sore from holding it up on the pedal all the time !! sweet...

I have an ARB rear diff locker, Jackaroo petrol 99. I reckon the rear LSD from Holden is pretty damn ordinary, you are deluded if you think its going to hold much.
I decided from my own experience that the rear LSD was poor, went for the ARB rear air locker. I would argue that in uphill situations the front is relatively unweighted. and /or maybe off the ground due to limitation of front wheel travel of the Jackaroo IFS. I decided to preserve steerability so left the front as is. Its a good combo now.