ARB Air locker going loose
Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 17, 2004 at 18:33
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Member- Rox (WA)
Has anyone had experance with an arb airlocker coming loose? Just fitted in
perth 2 months ago but 4wd company and have just finished the Anne Beadell Hwy, 300km b4 cooberpeady i looked under 4wd and the rear diff was leaking oil big time. had to fill up with normal oil (diesel) as I didnt have any diff oil and ALL bolts were loose that attach it to the diff housing. A potencialy life thretening situation.
Reply By: sean - Wednesday, Nov 17, 2004 at 18:45
Wednesday, Nov 17, 2004 at 18:45
Rox
This year I had a front locker fitted and it leaks diff oil back up the line and spurts it out through the air valve. Also have leaks around the diff plug. I was not happy with ARB proposed fix so emailed head office and guess what, they did not even bother to reply.
Good luck
Sean
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84764
Follow Up By: Member - Nick (TAS) - Wednesday, Nov 17, 2004 at 18:51
Wednesday, Nov 17, 2004 at 18:51
Gday Sean,reading the other day about the fitment of Air Lockers and noted that the oil level has to be decreased by 20mm(from memory) because of the air line placement,wonder if this was done.(I guess this applies to all vehicles was reading about Toyota Surf)
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Follow Up By: Mad Dog (Victoria) - Wednesday, Nov 17, 2004 at 19:34
Wednesday, Nov 17, 2004 at 19:34
Sean, do you regularly lock in the front hubs to circulate some oil. If not you will probably get oil back up the line like I did. I ran locked for a coupla days and now lock them every week for a couple of trips to work and back...I mean lock the hubs, not the diff of course. I haven't had oil backfire since.
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Reply By: NissanofOld - Wednesday, Nov 17, 2004 at 18:57
Wednesday, Nov 17, 2004 at 18:57
The housing has nothing to do with the locker itself, which replaces the standard LSD. However, what you describe is a very sloppy installation process if the diff housing bolts have come loose. Clearly someone has not torqued the diff housing bolts up correctly and by the sounds of it, have left them virtually un-tensioned.
The problem now is whether this has caused other damage internally to the gears and drive shaft, so it's not simply a matter of tightening things up again. You may need to contact ARB head office with your complaint, rather than those who installed it and see if you can get the entire rear axle independently tested.
I've had problems with ARB diff locks in the past as
well, but this has been related to internal seals leaking, which simply stop the locker from working. A pain in the butt, as it usually happens out of warranty.
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84770
Follow Up By: cokeaddict - Wednesday, Nov 17, 2004 at 19:33
Wednesday, Nov 17, 2004 at 19:33
I agree with the above. I would say the housing bolts were not tightened properly (if at all). Not a chance in hell of them all comming loose. Sounds to me like a friday afternoon job when they are all thinking of packing up and heading off somewhere rather than focusing on the job.
Happens from time to time, not just an ARB thing either. Many times we forgot to check the jobs we did cause of either too much work on the day with deadlines to meet and customers picking their toys up expecting it to be ready or just plain stupidity.
Get it looked at professionally though, dont settle for just a retension and drive away. Very sad to read these posts. I know how you must feel and I can just imagine what could have happened. I would say, although not entirly sure, that the engine oil you added was not the best thing to put in but you really had no choice there so i would have done same to get me home.
Hope you sort it out and they do the right thing.
Regards Angelo
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Reply By: Peter 2 - Wednesday, Nov 17, 2004 at 20:56
Wednesday, Nov 17, 2004 at 20:56
I agree with the poor install theory, after having had an airlocker in three troopies since the mid 80's I never had that problem or any other failures/oil leaks etc.
Just the diff oil smell when turing it off.
Never had to lower the oil level either.
AnswerID:
84787