Thread: Rear locker - Detroit or chinese ARB knock off

Originally Posted by redrovertdi

I have the trutrac in the front, no vibration just a stronger "return to center" which took about 2 ks to get used to, others that have driven my 110 dont notice.

X2


I have had both. I had one of the very early ARB air lockers in my old Toyota 60 series (front and rear). They never broke or stopped working (more on that below), but the air tank seemed to take an age to fill and it was no good if you thought the terrain was okay and get bogged, better to have a detroit which just works all the time. 4wd action did a locker test a while ago and their recommendation was a detroit for the rear and manual locker for the front.

ARB spout about that if the air locker does fail you can still drive as the diff reverts to an open diff, but who wants to pay the big bucks for something doesn't work and they do fail too often. They have failed a couple of times on the said 4wd action vids, one not long ago on a Defender and my friend went to Cape York this year in his 80 series (rear only ARB air locker) and whilst crossing a muddy creek he started smelling oil - the air line blew out internally and was blowing diff oil out of the breather. IMO for that money failure should be virtually unknown.

Another uniformed comment on the detroit locker is unlocking on bends. That only happens on firm ground. Even if the rear is unlocked and slippage occurs it locks within a quarter of a wheel turn. Further I just got back from a trip and on tight fire trail bends you could hear a rear wheel sliding on the dirt as the axle was locked. You could also feel the LSD working at the front - it is a very reassuring feeling, knowing that everything just works.

I have had both and whatever 4wd I get in future, it will be the detroits in the diffs.

I have had all sorts of lockers over 20-30 years. The absolute best set up for all situations are manual lockers front and rear. For the other 99% of the time manual front and auto rear works well. Different lockers behave in different ways, you just have to get used to them.

My current set up is Ashcroft front, Eaton eLocker rear and Ashcroft ATB in the middle. Works well for me.

Don't go Chinese copy. Go the Detroit.

Rick

I would go the Detroit I have both an ARB and a Detroit I like the ARB its been trouble free for years.

The Detroit will increase backlash in the drive line but you can drive around it.
Be mindful if you use the Detroit you really need to use better axles I twisted standard axles with the Detroit

Originally Posted by weeds

Air lockers.........mine have been faultless

Have never driven a car with other type of lockers so have nothing to compare against

I don't quite get some of the comments about air lockers though...........

Lag in engaging - I engage way before I need it and in any case never experienced a delay

Compressor failure - never failed, not even a fuse, I fact I cannot remember the last time I even looked at the compressor, buy a quality one and it should see out the the life off he car + if you do regular touring than you need a reliable compressor to adjust tyre pressures not saying it will, but perhaps a solenoid failure. If the locker doesn't require a compressor than one less thing

Hole in diff - what's one more hole......there is at least five other holes probably more on the front diff a hole is drilled in the diff for the airline. Airline get ripped off there then there is a hole in the diff. Again may not happen, but no hole no concern

Air line failure - yep happened on my first trip, I went and brought connectors which I have carted with me for eight years and never used them good fix, but you had to do so

In saying all that the previous owner installed mine so it didn't cost me anywhere near what retail is, if I brought a new rig I would look at other options

Air lockers are good, but genuine Detroit $600, genuine air $1300, Chinese $600?. I know what I'd go for.

I've never had a problem with the Trutrack.

Thanks for all the replies.