YALT: Yet Another Locker Thread

[Michael2]

I've got front and rear ARB air lockers on my 110. They've let me down as many times as they've helped me, with similar problems you've noted.

A friend has Detroit lockers front and rear on his 110, and another has them front and rear on a D2a.

They haven't had any issues with "permanent" lockers in both diffs.

I need to choose the point at which I lock my diff/s knowing that this will result in reduced turning function (especially for the front). With the detroits, they can have maximum traction all the time, and should the need to turn overcome the need for traction, the diff will allow it.

If I had to do this to a new vehicle, I'd put the auto lockers in at half the cost, with a significant improvement in reliability. If it was a Competition Vehicle, I suppose the air lockers might be a bit stronger, but for a touring vehicle I think the automatic lockers give the best result with maximum traction all the time.

[NovaRover]

Put in the Harrop on the rear of my 130 last month . Love it, just hit the switch and instant engagement with no fuss. Can disengage while on the move with no fuss. Planing to put the Ashcroft ATB in the front later as I can't help feeling they will be kinder to the front universals.

[1nando]

Put in the Harrop on the rear of my 130 last month . Love it, just hit the switch and instant engagement with no fuss. Can disengage while on the move with no fuss. Planing to put the Ashcroft ATB in the front later as I can't help feeling they will be kinder to the front universals.

Im thinking of dling the same to my front diff. I figure its a good way to strengthen it up, just not sure if ill do that first or an atb for the centre diff. Decisions decisions

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[Iain_B]

I went with the Ashcroft ATBs front and rear on mine, works great with the traction control system and most importantly, works when you need it. No need to back down and switch them on for another go with the lockers on

[rangieman]

I went with the Ashcroft ATBs front and rear on mine, works great with the traction control system and most importantly, works when you need it. No need to back down and switch them on for another go with the lockers on

The whole idea with manual locker`s is you weigh up the situation ahead .
Ill look at something as im driving up to it and if needed i`ll stop get out and survey the job ahead if needed .
But honestly real drivers will just engage locker or lockers before attempting anything to minimize track damage or car damage
No need to rip a track up then engage your locker that is what nissota driver`s do
I prefer the air locker`s as they suit my need with a built compressor and the choice of engagement when needed and when i want them.

[Disco-tastic]

I went with the Ashcroft ATBs front and rear on mine, works great with the traction control system and most importantly, works when you need it. No need to back down and switch them on for another go with the lockers on

That's a great "set and forget" solution!

Without TC I would always go a manual locker. Auto lockers seem to be too inconsistent, and the ARB air lockers I had on my old D1 never let me down (they let oil past the seals though, which was fixed with a new $1 O-ring...)

Here's an appropriate video comparing manual and auto lockers, as well as the D2 traction control

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTSY4X-cnlQ[/ame]

Cheers,

Dan

[rutmutt]

I have twin elockers in MY13 110 for the reasons stated in OP. Easy to diagnose and fix.

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[stewie110]

Hi All,

I am currently looking at purchasing a new pair of lockers for my MY15 110. My previous defenders had Maxi-drive lockers. Never missed a beat.

Originally I was looking at ARB units. However I was on a trip earlier in the year for two weeks. 8 vehicles of which 4 had ARB lockers, none of them had a flawless experience. Some of the problems could have been installer related (poor electrical install work, crappy connections etc) others seemed to be design failures (leaks or oil in the compressors). While none of the vehicles on the trip were land rovers it did seem to be a generic product problem (Nissan, Toyota and Jeep). That experience has made me look to other brands again.

I originally started looking at the Ashcroft units. I have used ashcroft products in the past and found them to be excellent. I then found McNamara which is an Australian made product and looks amazing. McNamara also recommended TJM. All of these products are air operated. I have been unable to find anyone writing reviews or experience with the TJM products in a Defender. I am interested to know if anyone has had problems with the air supply on any of these other products?

I have also been thinking strongly about eLocker as it has no airlines. In theory electrical circuits are easier to test/diagnose problems with. Finding an air leak can be a nightmare. At least you can measure electricity in and electricity out of a pair of wires.

I am interested to know what other peoples feelings are on the topic. I am particularly interested to know what people feel are the pro's and con's from each approach (air vs electricity) and are the airlines as fragile as they appear from my experience.

Update: Over the weekend I went and looked at the kits from arb, harrop and tjm. Without having metal strength testing gear etc they all look to have a similar level of build quality. Measured by similar weights, feel, look of finish.

The harrop part looks the most simple by far. Some wires coming into a locking mechanism. The various parts for the air based systems quickly add up. I am still undecided as to what I am going to be purchasing.

An add-on to the original question.
How many people have upgraded the crown wheel and pinion? When they did their locker upgrade. My local OL dealer seemed familiar with the late model defender and suggested doing those parts. I had been planning to upgrade the axles and flanges already.

[FV1601]

I up graded the front crown/pinion for the TJM locker. But that was because the complete diff was disintegrating due to incompetence. Still seething over that one, but on the bright side the front end shimmy is gone.


Question for the brains trust Re. Lockers vs Maxi drives/self locking diffs.
The brakes on my TDCI 130 are woeful (No ABS, not sure if that makes a difference) and on steep downhill tracks with severe rutting or steps as soon as one of the wheels lost weight/unloaded any braking effort went straight to that wheel causing some interesting moments and an irate navigator. The rear diff lock has certainly made a huge improvement in this regard: does this trick work with maxi-drives etc?


After some testing over the last two weeks I have found that the lockers have turned very interesting tracks into boring ones. Just what the navigator ordered...
Rich.

[stewie110]

I up graded the front crown/pinion for the TJM locker. But that was because the complete diff was disintegrating due to incompetence. Still seething over that one, but on the bright side the front end shimmy is gone.


Question for the brains trust Re. Lockers vs Maxi drives/self locking diffs.
The brakes on my TDCI 130 are woeful (No ABS, not sure if that makes a difference) and on steep downhill tracks with severe rutting or steps as soon as one of the wheels lost weight/unloaded any braking effort went straight to that wheel causing some interesting moments and an irate navigator. The rear diff lock has certainly made a huge improvement in this regard: does this trick work with maxi-drives etc?


After some testing over the last two weeks I have found that the lockers have turned very interesting tracks into boring ones. Just what the navigator ordered...
Rich.

Out of interest what manufacturer did you go with for the upgraded crown and pinion?

I have had to use front centre and rear lockers on sleep declines and inclines on my previous maxi drives.