LOKKA vs ARB air lockers

Lokkas (well Lock rights are what I have) definaltley do work. And I have not yet driven into a tree as many would suggest will happen with autolockers.

Guess it comes down to how badly (read how many $$$ you want to throw at) you want the "psssst" noise and the sticker on the back window.

(unless you have a fulltime 4by in which case a front auto locker is a really, really bad idea)

ARB make a good (albiet costly) product and is excellent for what it does, but plenty of people use LOKKAs with much success. When I eventually get that far ill be sticking a LOKKA in the front.

If anything, its potentially more reliable as it has less components...no air hoses to puncture, no compressors to fail, or your cars electics that will cause the compressor to fail.

If its installed correctly, It should function perfectly without need to ever touch it. Lets face it, you will sell the vehicle before you will wear it out.

If you abuse it, you will break it 4x4's break axles, blow diffs etc etc IF they are not used responsibly.

Nothing is fool proof, as someone always invents a bigger fool.

Rev

Controlling your lockers yourself is always an advantage..
You pay for this.

Pay for what you get.

I would suggest you all go and have a look the post I put up about a month ago Post 31157 . you might learn some very helpful information if you have intensions of fitting Auto Lockers to the rear of Toyota's, you will see my solutions which is still holding today so far.and you will see some over the top suggestions and remedies that made me wonder whether these guys worked for the government ????

Why don't you blokes just go the internet and you will find all the info you will ever need on Diff Locks and what,why,how,and when.all that except reallity experience and that only comes when your in the rough stuff, Check these URLs i found for you.
Site Link

Site Link

Site Link

www.locked-drive.com.au/product.htm

I don't know what's so bad about the cost. I paid $695 for my ARB locker :-)

Had both, no competition at all.....air locker is way ahead in my opinion. Mind you, I can only refer to my expierences and uses. Everyone is different.

As for the expense of the Air Locker....well...i was hesitant at first but after my first real situation.....it worked wonders to get me out of trouble and saved me from some serious hard yakka...so if the rear diff in the GQ wasnt so good...id whack one in there too.
Ange

Hi mate, it seems locker threads always get the most attention. I have an option on the lokkas. I first got a rear lokka based on price as it is around 4 times cheaper. I also fitted it myself to save money. Ultimatly I would say the ARB lockers are better, but that does not change the fact that that I think there still some benefits of the lokka over the arb locker and these should not be passed up too quickly as for some people I think the lokka is superior. Here they are in order (it's how my mind thinks)

1, the lokka is alway on, so if your approaching a hard area, sometimes with the arb the driver makes a decision wether to use the arb as it is not always needed as it cant negotiate corners when on. So you may end up with a situation where your turning the damn thing on and off for corners + you have to be in a straight line as mentioned so you dont always have the complete freedom to have it on or off when you want. The lokka allows the faster wheel to go faster and disegages. I have gone down very steep inclines with one wheel off the ground, it seems to me the lokka should disengage at this point but it doesent.

2. The lokka is on-on the road. For the power I have this is irrelevant, but I have read a few forums where they choose auto lockers over arb so if they loose grip the thing is already on. In this situation there is no way of turning the arb on in 1 - 2 seconds at the most, the lokka is better. This also applies to off road when you may have judged a situation to be easy and it may be all to late to turn on the arb, the lokka may have already gotten you through with momentum.

3. Reliability, I know they say the arb is reliable and i dont doubt it is, but is it more reliable than a complely sealed unit with minimal moving parts. I have heard of airlines leaking or being punctured, I would say this is very rare but they are still there to be punctured.

As for the lokka unlocking at a bad time, it doesent, it is positive locking so the more pressure applied the harder it will lock. I drive on the freeway daily and when the lokka locks/unlocks it is undetectable.

Bad stuff with lokka, cant unlock. I have had it shudder 3 times since it's been in. Thats around 1 time per 6 months. It happens when the lokka re engages a little late and once around the corner snaps into position. I called the guys about this they said it's cool (what else will they say!!) An open diff drives the outside wheel while cornering, the lokka drives the inside wheel while cornering, if you have power you will easily spin the inside wheel in the wet as it's a small turning radius and lots of torque. It unlocks in corners even if you dont want it too.

Hi KSV

Had both lockrite and ARB in Patrols, and my overall choice would be lockers.
If however it was a choice between late model detroit lockers and ARB it would be a harder descision.

I believe the bottom line is that low cost lockers are very good value for money and
work well but not in the end as good as the more expensive units.

(referring below to front fitment first on part time 4wds)
There are a few cases where in practise Lokka outperforms ARB, typically dry hard stuff where turning is needed, but there are more cases when ARB wins, primarily in slippery conditions because you can turn it off. The late version detroits are inbetween here because while you can't turn them off , there are more sensitive and unlock better.

With the Lockrite in the front, when 4wding I spent more time in 2wd because you
would often loose front end in slippery conditions and 2wd was better as long as you could hold it. This was quite a severe issue and meant that I drove more in high range so I could slip the patrol in/out of 4wd.

P.S. I really nearly crashed the car into tree first time I used lockrite like others
have suggested is possible.

Robin Miller

My brother and his mates all have ARB airlockers and they swear by them performance wise. There is a catch, all of them have replaced sealing rings in them and my brothers is due again. I am not that keen to purchase the airlocker as if i wanted to remove a diff centre every 18 months to do this i would have bought Landcruiser pinion bearing bruiser. My mate in Townsville has just fitted a Lokka in the front of his part time 80 and it works really well, so i will wait to see if he has any reiability issues with it before i fit one to my GU.