Thread: Chinese Diff-locks (RD128)

Originally Posted by weeds

it can be tough maintaining our hobbies whether it be 4wding, mtbing, fishing, model planes etc etc.........

I try and buy genuine good quality gear that is value for money, sometime if have to make a compromise.......if I couldn't afford say and arb locker I would probably go an auto locker first than the copy last...bless the previous owner of my rig who install front and rear arb lockers

each to their own and spend your hard earnt dollars which ever way you want.

Yup I did this to the rear sals with a genuine Detroit direct from lucky8 USA. Served me well with hy-Tuff axles so far. I'm now thinking about front but a copy is not on my radar, rather a used maxi or wait n save for ARB/Ashcroft.

As to copyright! It does not exist in China and outside China most companies are to scared to pursue legal action. A cherry that look identical to a rav 4 or a great Wall that looks the same as a d-max / rodeo.

They copy the ARB paperwork because 'Ingrish' is not their first language and saves a few more dollars on translating (poorly) their own set of instructions. It is cheeky. Wonder what steps ARB takes to fight this, other that youtube vids?

I've got Ashcroft lockers which were easy to install.

Just so this appears relevant to the originator of the thread my friend (Chinese Australian ironically) got some socialist lockers for his Jimny - to test them he locked up the vehicle and donuted it in a local car park for about 15 minutes before deciding all was good.

Is it such a moral problem if ARB don't make or sell this model locker any more. I thought copyright covered R & D for 10 years then open slather.

I can see a problem if ARB release a product and immediately after copies of the same, better or lesser quality flood the market.

I am still on the fence, superseded chocker or Detroit. They are about the same price.

Originally Posted by rar110

Is it such a moral problem if ARB don't make or sell this model locker any more. I thought copyright covered R & D for 10 years then open slather.

I can see a problem if ARB release a product and immediately after copies of the same, better or lesser quality flood the market.

I am still on the fence, superseded chocker or Detroit. They are about the same price.

Did you look at the link I posted that shows the inside of the Chinese factory ?
ÎÂÁëÊк£·ç²îËÙÆ÷ÓÐÏÞ¹«Ë¾ ³ÏÐŵµ°¸

Might help make your mind up.


Colin

Just a question, do they make a copy of the Detroit ?
That is older than any ARB and has a bigger market. Or are the yanks more likely to sue them so they don't do it?

Patent infringement aside, I just wouldn't / won't trust the unknown metallurgical properties of these things in my vehicle.

A failure is a show stopper...

Originally Posted by Tombie

Patent infringement aside, I just wouldn't / won't trust the unknown metallurgical properties of these things in my vehicle.

A failure is a show stopper...

You also need to consider that the cheapo Chinese diff centre is in use every day you drive the vehicle.
110Kph down the freeway with your kids onboard and relying on the unknown materials used in a diff centre that was made down to a price not to a specification ?
Every time you take a corner those cast gears, possibly with incorrect backlash settings, are meshing & grinding away.....

I had a look at the internals of a Chinese locker recently and one of the funniest things were the thrust washers. ARB - hardened & ground steel. Chocker - one stamped from brass the other from copper !?
I'm not saying they are all like this but I guess they are made from whatever is available at the time.


You might be lucky.......but why take the risk ?



Colin

Originally Posted by gromit

Did you look at the link I posted that shows the inside of the Chinese factory ?
ÎÂÁëÊк£·ç²îËÙÆ÷ÓÐÏÞ¹«Ë¾ ³ÏÐŵµ°¸

Might help make your mind up.


Colin

Mmmm OH&S