Best front locker - options

[Steve]

My conclusion is that the ARB Air Locker is the best choice for both strength and reliability. I'll try to add some pics later today once I open the box. (I plan to go pick one up in the next hour or so)

...none that I found discussed comparisons of strength specifically.

You certainly can't go wrong with an ARB. I've never seen a real comparison of strength either; it would be nice to though.

 

[SaddleUp]

You certainly can't go wrong with an ARB. I've never seen a real comparison of strength either; it would be nice to though.

For me strength is a greater concern than the difference of opinions regarding driving them on the street. I can always leave mine parked on the trailer if the roads are icy which I'll probably do even with an ARB in front. (I've been sideways on the road too many times in 4WD's with big tires on ice so I avoid it)

 

[david heater]

I have had my ARB in for about seven + years, . I have yet to blow a seal or o ring. I air my swampers down to about 8psi with no problems yet.
Just some PM advice and airline advice, change your gear lube every year or at least at the six month mark if not sooner depending on your wheeling.
You can get away with the blue line by doing this, go buy some black vacuum line and run your blue line inside of it. I'm on my original line with no problems.

 

[SaddleUp]

I have had my ARB in for about seven + years, . I have yet to blow a seal or o ring. I air my swampers down to about 8psi with no problems yet.
Just some PM advice and airline advice, change your gear lube every year or at least at the six month mark if not sooner depending on your wheeling.
You can get away with the blue line by doing this, go buy some black vacuum line and run your blue line inside of it. I'm on my original line with no problems.

Randy's suggested running steel braided line. I need to get extra line anyway simply because I need to run it clear to the back so I might get steel braided. At any rate I'll probably upgrade the line.

 

[david heater]

Randy's suggested running steel braided line. I need to get extra line anyway simply because I need to run it clear to the back so I might get steel braided. At any rate I'll probably upgrade the line.

Nothing against the steel line, I have mine in blue wrapped both front and rear. I shop here who set up my front end gave me this idea, he has been doing it this way since the ARB came out with no problems. Just in case

 

[SaddleUp]

Nothing against the steel line, I have mine in blue wrapped both front and rear. I shop here who set up my front end gave me this idea, he has been doing it this way since the ARB came out with no problems. Just in case

Thanks. If the line turns out to be long enough I'll probably do that.

 

[mxpaz]

Build the 609.

 

[SaddleUp]

Build the 609.

I will eventually but right now it is too much dollars and too little time. I figure even if I wait out good deals on some of the parts it will still cost at lease $2K. On a short time schedule that would probably double. Even then it would be down for a few weeks. My sales are also slow right now so I don't want to cut any further into my safety cushion. Once things pick back up and I build up a larger cushion again then I'll look at the 609 again. It will probably follow the coilovers and full hydro steering now though.

 

[Madgyver]

What's a "609"?

Any links?

 

[bmc69]

Randy's suggested running steel braided line. I need to get extra line anyway simply because I need to run it clear to the back so I might get steel braided. At any rate I'll probably upgrade the line.

I went the stainless braided air hose route, with steel AN ends..I took one look at the plastic line and brass fittings that came with the ARB and stuck it all on the shelf to use for 'something else'. McMAster Carr has all the stuff you need as far as making up your own line, inc. various ends and adapter fittings in steel (or stainless steel).

 

[SaddleUp]

What's a "609"?

Any links?

A 609 is a Hybrid 9" center section with Dana 60 outers on it. Sunray Engineering makes them however my plan is to build my own.
http://www.sunrayengineering.com/build.html

 

[SaddleUp]

As promised here are a few pictures. The first one shows the pieces of the Detroit Locker I dug out of the bottom of the housing. Today I dug about twice as many as this out in addition to these that were sitting behind the ring gear. Fortunately they broke off fairly clean so there are not a bunch of shavings in the case and none of them fed through any bearings or the gears. The following pics are of the ARB Air Locker along with everything that came with it followed by a comparison picture of the Detroit Locker before I pulled it out.

 

[broncodude_73]

i love my detriot. You are the first person that I have heard of that has had problems with it. I don't know much about the elactrac but my friends run arbs and ox. They both work great and they have never had problems with either. But I have heard of arbs breaking a couple of times when we went to superlift orv and at the last uroc event we went to in farmington.

 

[SaddleUp]

i love my detriot. You are the first person that I have heard of that has had problems with it. I don't know much about the elactrac but my friends run arbs and ox. They both work great and they have never had problems with either. But I have heard of arbs breaking a couple of times when we went to superlift orv and at the last uroc event we went to in farmington.

My brother split the side gear in one last year during the SOB trail run. It was less than 2 months old so they replaced it under warranty. I've also heard of a few others that have had them break as well. Generally speaking though they are considered to be bulletproof.

 

[mxpaz]

get used to this: :-*
"hey, your front tires arent turning"

 

[Mike C]

ARB

I have an ARB, normal ARB plastic lines and no problems.