Thread: Chinese diff locks

Originally Posted by VladTepes

But back to lockers.... what would people recommend as the best options for F and for R axles ?

The ARB doesn;t 'grab'me all that much... how are the MD and Ashcroft different ?

For what vehicle?

MD lockers have the advantage that they have no rotating air seal, and are designed to operate on vacuum (-14 psi) or ~15 psi compressed air. Once locked, they will stay locked (held in by detent) until you unlock them. The light only lights up once they are fully locked. I believe MR Auto is only selling the Salisbury version these days?

ARB on the other hand need ~70 psi to operate, only stay locked while they have air pressure and the light just tells you you have flicked the switch.

AFAIK Ashcroft locker were designed after the guys at Ashcroft had ~20++ years experience installing, modifying and improving ARB lockers. They tried to give ARB design improvements but they were not interested, so instead they developed an "improved" locker.

Originally Posted by isuzurover

For what vehicle?

MD lockers have the advantage that they have no rotating air seal, and are designed to operate on vacuum (-14 psi) or ~15 psi compressed air. Once locked, they will stay locked (held in by detent) until you unlock them. The light only lights up once they are fully locked. I believe MR Auto is only selling the Salisbury version these days?

ARB on the other hand need ~70 psi to operate, only stay locked while they have air pressure and the light just tells you you have flicked the switch.

AFAIK Ashcroft locker were designed after the guys at Ashcroft had ~20++ years experience installing, modifying and improving ARB lockers. They tried to give ARB design improvements but they were not interested, so instead they developed an "improved" locker.

What's an MD locker?

Originally Posted by *RR*

What's an MD locker?

Maxi Drive. Probably the most commonly fitted manual locker to Australian Land Rovers.

Maxi-Drive Land Rover accessories, Land Rover used parts, Land Rover spare parts suppliers for Brisbane, Queensland and Australia wide

Originally Posted by isuzurover

Maxi Drive. Probably the most commonly fitted manual locker to Australian Land Rovers.

Maxi-Drive Land Rover accessories, Land Rover used parts, Land Rover spare parts suppliers for Brisbane, Queensland and Australia wide

ohhhh haha! I'm such a noob!

what are Maxi-Drive lockers worth?

[ame]http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lZmsY2YvVsc[/ame]

This'll help explain how the TruTrac works! Easier than me writing a page of badly worded garb! Re Chinese Lockers... I'll sit on the fence with that one.... Have seen enough dodgy Chinese tractors to put me off for life, but had nothing to do with the diff locks, so cant comment.. My choice/suggestion would be deal with Lucky 8, and get a Detroit in the Salisbury rear, and a Trutrac in the Rover front (assuming that's your 110 in the pic). This is what I ran in the 130, and once I work a way of making a Trutrac fit, will be fitting in the front of the 101. Already have the Detroit.. The Detroit worked well, and only made the odd 'bang' which is a Detroit trait. The Trutrac in the front made the steering centralise more positively, which caught me out initially but was fine once used to it. With this combo and 285 mud terrains I was always amased where the 130 would go! I'd chicken out first! Talk to MLR if you want HyTough shafts (used to be Maxidrive). Recommended upgrade with lockers etc! Hope this helps/adds to the confusion!

Originally Posted by VladTepes

Wet grass is the slipperiest thing known to mankind....

Mmnnhh! Personal lubricant that smells like grass - could catch on

Anyway, beware with bearings as the type of locker installed may, just may mean different thickness bearings due to shim required to obtain preload. Happened to me, went out and bought two, now have one spare.

Don't worry about being a noob, RR ; we're all learning all the time (except the mechanics here). Diffs are fascinating pieces of equipment. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYAw79386WI for an old style movie of how diffs developed.

Originally Posted by Didge

Anyway, beware with bearings as the type of locker installed may, just may mean different thickness bearings due to shim required to obtain preload. Happened to me, went out and bought two, now have one spare.

Sounds strange. Couldn't you just set it normally via the adjusters on the bearing mounts?

Well yeah, I could have been conned. They guy who put in the arb air locker was Con by name and I reckon con by nature. Botched up the first installation by squashing the air line under the bearing cap (my mother wouldn't even try that) and I kicked and screamed so he fixed it up. Happy to let you know who is in in Southern Sydney near Botany Bay but have to heed the name and shame rules on the forum. Anyway, I bought two bearings and he reckoned one was too thick and gave it back, he had to order another one! ????