Cross-axle lockers for a Defender

[rmp]

Recommendations please.

- McNamara
- Maxi
- ARB
- ????

Not interested in autolockers. I know what lockers do, I'm looking for opinions based on experience with respect to quality and so on.

Many thanks

[VladTepes]

Aquarangie has had both ARB and maxidrive lockers on his various Rangies so might be worth a PM if he doesn't see this post.

[hiline]

i run ARB air lockers front and rear style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif
and rear maxi axles front are standard landrover

i have the compressure fitted under the passenger seat box
with the hose nozzle fitted to the front of the box, save's lifting the bonnet all the time


i've had mine 4yrs now and never had a problem yet

and easy to turn on and off :wink:

[DaveS3]

Have a search for opinions from HSVRangie. He has got it down pat now.

On construction-
Jac Mac
Maxi
Arb

New one will be the TJM pro locker which seems to be a Jac Mac in disguise :wink:

I think that the seals on the ARB are their biggest problem, but this is normally an instalation error.

All are great products.

Dave.

[Lionel]

What's wrong with autolockers (Detroit etc.)? I know they are not a goer on the front, but how about one on the rear diff?

Cheers,

Lionel

[rick130]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>What's wrong with autolockers (Detroit etc.)? I know they are not a goer on the front, but how about one on the rear diff?

[/b][/quote]

depends on your previous experience with them. Some love them, and reckon that the newer 'Soft Locker' versions are pretty unobtrusive, yet those of us who have used them a long time ago are shy of them as they were pretty crude in operation, banging and clunking as they engaged and disengaged and generally upsetting the vehicle.

[HSVRangie]

My preference.

JM
Maxi
arb



autos:
detroit in rear
trutrac in front

If you have ETC fit trutrac front and rear this will be perfect for all butthe most extreme.

Michael.

[TuffRR]

Robert

My Rangie has a McNamara airlocker in the front and Maxidrive in the rear. I have not had a problem with either over the last 5 years.
My preference is with the McNamara only because i have seen a few small problems with the vaccuum lines on the Maxidrive. However, this had more to do with the installation rather than the product itself.

As you know, the Rangie gets quite a caning and I haven't broken either so both are top quality.

ARB is expensive for what it is (just locker) when you consider you still need to upgrade the axles to be on par with MD or McNamara and there are a few reported failures of the ARB.

[Frenchie]

Does the McNamara come with upgraded axles or do you buy the Maxidrive axles?

[rmp]

Thanks all. Looks like McNamara or Maxi in that order. I'll get the axle upgrade too.

[rmp]

Originally posted by Lionel
What's wrong with autolockers (Detroit etc.)? I know they are not a goer on the front, but how about one on the rear diff?

Cheers,

Lionel

Sometimes you'd want to deactivate the locker. Autos are effectvely 1WD around corners. They can have a negative effect on handling.

Nice avatar photo, by the way :-)

[Lionel]

Hi Rob!

You picked it, did you? I was wondering how long it would take for you to twig!

Cheers,

Lionel

[uninformed]

maxi-drive, very happy with mine and other maxi products
if you were to ring both(maxi and jacmac) of these companies and talk to the owners it would be a no brainer
serg

[cols110]

I&#96;m very happy with my detroit for the price I paid second hand, but if I was spending the money on a new one, I&#96;d go a manually controlled one. The detroit does make a bit of noise sometimes, nothing excessive, it does&#96;nt really make any difference to the handling, on a shorter wheelbase than a 110 it might, the biggest draw back is when on a greasy slide slope, the arse end does break away a lot easier with both wheels slipping, causing the odd arse clenching momment. With a manually operated diff lock you would still have one wheel slipping, but the wheel that does&#96;nt have the drive and is just rolling still maintains the vehicles stability, and stops the arse end breaking away as easily.

[Belly]

My mud toy is a 86 110v8 with a Detroit in the rear and
ARB in the front. I heard alot of stuff about the Detroit both
good & bad, but went for it any way. Glad I did its great, dont
have to think about when to lock/unlock the rear just the
front. Have had no issues on or off road.
I think its a great combo.

cheers JEFF

[Gidget]

I have an ARB locker in the rear of the fender & after spinning the ends of the standard axles I now have maxidrive axles & flanges .The locker has never missed a beat since fitting & has helped out on many an occasion style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif .
I am thinking of pulling out the locker before we sell it as we won't get any more as a trade anyway.

[sclarke]

Originally posted by DaveS3

New one will be the TJM pro locker which seems to be a Jac Mac in disguise :wink:



I have heard the same thing and that is why i'm waiting to see what the outcome of pricing is.

[rangieman]

well this might help slightly i have 2 macnamara diffs both open and i did alot of home work before i took the leap.ARB do not sevice there lockers if any thing goes wrong. guess who fixes ARB lockers. jack macnamara.end of quote. i think that says it all hope it helps. :twisted:

[rangieman]

sorry i meant to add ARB use standard rangie axles which will snap . jack macnamara suplpies his 23 spline axles with his diff locks. and belive me you wont break his axles

[Greylandy]

Can we get some general pricing on the Mcnamara locker an axles? Any suppliers in Sydney?

[Greylandy]

Originally posted by TuffRR
ARB is expensive for what it is (just locker) when you consider you still need to upgrade the axles to be on par with MD or McNamara and there are a few reported failures of the ARB.

Rear setup for a Defender '04:
ARB Locker/Compressor/Maxi drive axles (fitted) = $2383
Maxi drive locker/axles (fitted) = $3250

That is a $867 difference in favour of the ARB locker. If we were comparing a maxi locker to some dodgy import from an Asian country I would say fair enough, but this is ARB. I just don't see how the maxi drive product can be superior to such an extent that anybody can justify paying an extra $900. I have no doubt there are more failures on ARB products because they probably sell five airlockers for every 1 maxi so by default there will be more comebacks.

Any thoughts??

<span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">P.S: Quotes above are from ARB and a reputable LR specialist in Sydney.</span>

Henry.

[sclarke]

If for any reason you break a Maxi component in the driveline even if its 5 years old he replaces it.

ARB wont.

my 20c? i might be wrong and if i am please tell me as we never want to be wrong.

[rangieman]

after sales service thats what its all about even if they are both australian i would rather spend my money once and i know what i want for my money? style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[HSVRangie]

arb the weekest of lockers for Rovers.

jacmac
maxi
arb

but you probaly wont break an ARB before you bust the R&P. maybe.

Michael.

[rangieman]

i got quoted $1700.00 then you have to buy a arb pump on top for a macnamara locker only last week thats for a rangie locker not shaw on a defender. ihad a mate with me when i was there last week and he has a dana diff in his rangie which is just about the same as a salisbury and he got quoted the same $1700.00 from macnamara

[Belly]

I know you guys dont seem to like them, but you
can get a Detroit locker fitted to salsbury for $1300,
leaves you to pay 6-700 for heavy axles, the lot for
approx. $2000. Put the saving towards a front locker!!!!

My 20cents worth cheers Jeff

[hiline]

a mate of mine swears by Detroit locker's

he wouldn't use anything else

[HSVRangie]

Nothing wrong with detroits.

great piece of gear.

one of the best setups on a RR is

Detroit in rear
Trutrac in front
with iether maxi or JM axles.

this set up would suit 99% of people.

not many places this would not go.

Michael.

[rick130]

seeing as I'm a lazy git by nature, and it is the weekend, what are the current supply only prices, to suit a Rover and Sals for Jac Mc, Maxi, ARB and Detroit from Jac Mc, Key 4wd/Maxi, Arb and Locked Drive ?

[uninformed]

[quote=TuffRR]ARB is expensive for what it is (just locker) when you consider you still need to upgrade the axles to be on par with MD or McNamara and there are a few reported failures of the ARB.

Rear setup for a Defender '04:
ARB Locker/Compressor/Maxi drive axles (fitted) = $2383
Maxi drive locker/axles (fitted) = $3250

just wondering where this price is from, because my rear(sals) with drive flanges was $2000 plus fitting which certainly wasn't $1250
cheers, serg