Thread: ARB air locker into sals - do it yourself?

Hi. I have fitted mine myself in the defender (F&R) at home and managed it without the diff spreader. However, if you arent to handy with a spanner ( I was a mechanic ) and can't get your head around the math for the shims and don't have the tools to measure them correctly then leave it well alone. And that's before you even think about drilling a hole in the RH bearing cap or drilling holes in the diff housing. stuff that up and you end up with lots of expensive scrap. Pay the experts and sleep well at night.

Cheers Nino

Hi,

I think you'll find a few threads on this. I've done it, but it's not so much tricky, but difficult to know when you have the settings/preloads/gear engagement right, so in and out a lot.

If you have to buy tapered tap & matching drill, dial gauge and magnetic stand, feeler guages, solid axle stands, etc the shop price is probably worth it it.

It'll probably take or at least allow all day, and really consider taking the diff out of the car, it's so much easier to work on- the dana/sals centre is really heavy and unless you have a hoist hard to see well enough under the car. When I did mine I ended up doing this.

The newer ARB lockers don't go through the bearing cap so one less one thing to do.

I'd say the safest and maybe in the long run cheapest way to go is to take the the diff out to the diff shop save a few bucks there and use that saving to contribute to installing new pinion bearings, flange/seals checked and maybe replaced to ensure no leaks and install a solid opinion spacer in lieu of collapsible.

This will ensure a much more reliable diff in the long run. I think you'll find lots of threads on these

Clive


I

Thanks very much guys. I appreciate your feedback. I'm reasonably handy with a spanner but not a mechanic, don't have the specialist tools or a hoist but reckon I could easily get my head around the maths for the shims, etc but then again certainly see the value in getting it done professionally. Might have to try finding a cheaper installation price (if they exist) or alternatively finding a bit more income. Many thanks again
cheers gerald

Pay some one to do it.
600 dollars sounds like good value to me for the effort involed.
Pick a diff specialist, or a more experienced mechanic too.
ARB lockers can have problems with leaking O rings.
Get the set up on the carrier bearings abit wrong and thats what you will get and why some people get problematic lockers and others trouble free.
Sometimes a Automotive engineer is not the grease monkeys that they are made out to be.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/fcs-milita...ff-lock-2.html

I think the leaking seals are from the old type of Oring, they now run a square section Oring.

I have fitted both mine and one to a sierra no dramas(I am a mechanic when not a soldier ).

You do need a dial indicator though and feeler gauges, + the other normal tools.

have fun either way

Thanks again gents,even though I'd really like to do it myself cos I find diffs fascinating, I'm now starting to lean towards getting someone to do it. I've had three "quotes" - $620 from the 4WD centre at Taren Point, Sydney, $720 from ARB themselves cos they'll hit me up cos it's second hand and "we won't do an ARB locker" from Graeme Cooper, near Newtown, Sydney. I guess there are times when its wiser to do more of what you do every day to earn a buck and use that money to pay someone else to do what they do everyday to earn a buck. many thanks to all
cheers Gerald

have a go your self mate. its easy enough and just buy a dial indicator and stand of ebay.

i put an arb locker in my Salisbury front axle and did it with out a separator.

there is only 1 way to learn and your under standing of diffs will get allot better.

maybe give your self a full weekend though and before you take out your diff check the backlash and tooth pattern with oxide coloring.

Thanks middy.01 - now I'm really confused. I'd like to have a go myself and did consider just buying the tools but I've got a bit of work around the house on my plate. aarrgghh decisions, decisions - still, I've got to get the locker yet .thanks again