Thread: Maxi vs Lokka vs ARB vs Detroit vs..

Could you answer
Make of Locker-macnamara
Type of Locker-air operated
Front, Rear or both-Both
Main Type of Off-road driving-Anything i can find to challenge them.Mainly ruted hills and bogholes
Verdict-Excellent as long as you have traction so tyres are important in slippery mud.Fitted them ourselves not to difficult.Would not hesitate to recomend them.
At the 2.07 min mark of this vid you will see Kevin(my Disco)climb a hill pretty easily that those without lockers had lots of trouble at


http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgl076sqa3E

Make of Locker: ARB
Type of Locker: Air Locker
Front, Rear or both: Rear
Main Type of Off-road driving: bit of every thing from club day trips to the vic high.
Verdict: Greatly improved off road capability for a relatively stock looking truck like mine. Its great being able to flick a switch and crawl instead of having to use momentum. I didn't really see a difference in sand on our recent trip to Fraser.
I had the flange and gasket changed under warranty as it was blowing oil out of the solenoid exhaust port.

Originally Posted by justinc

Detroit locker, rear, salisbury diff.

and is the best thing I have fitted to my RR apart from the 4BD1T.


I am completely happy with it and don't hesitate to recommend them.

JC

Hi Jack!


Salisbury in the rear of a RR???

How hard was the mod????

Might be worth a look at my Disco?

Tanks

Could you answer
Make of Locker DETROIT
Type of Locker Front TRUE TRACK and Rear FULL DETROIT
Front, Rear or both BOTH
Main Type of Off-road driving EVERY DAY AND NASTY STUFF OFFROAD.
Verdict WOULDNT DO IT ANY OTHER WAY.

Detroit Lockers provide a fuss free entry level locking diff. Once installed all the driver does is steer. But while it's off road manners are impeccable, on road is a different story. It's here they earn their reputation for being ‘noisy’ as they 'clunk' into and out of mesh. Likewise their poor handing reputation, while engaging and disengaging mid-corner. Also, they mightn't prove as cheap if you add the stronger Maxi-Drive axles like Darren did, once his were pulled out and were found to be twisted.

this statement is no longer valid as the new detroit's are easy and noise free to drive on and off road. and as knotty7 said landed for $780 pluss $400 USD for the axles, thats cheaper than any other locker/axle combo on the market.

cheers phil

Hi new to forum, live in New Zealand and get off road at least 1'ce a week, mostly forestry tracks, muddy clay and also sand/dunes on beach. I am intrested in advice on diff locks front and rear. Heard alot of good and bad things about ARB Airlockers. Did have a 4.6L P38 Ranger Rover in past and found onboard air to be a bit unreliable, with leaks however first to aknowledge that maintance was low as this was a bush basher. Tending towards Detriot Locker for rear, no idea about front. Welcome advice and comments, also recomendations on suppliers esp in New Zealand, But regularly visit USA and have no issues importing parts either.

Originally Posted by discowhite

Could you answer
Make of Locker DETROIT
Type of Locker Front TRUE TRACK and Rear FULL DETROIT
Front, Rear or both BOTH
Main Type of Off-road driving EVERY DAY AND NASTY STUFF OFFROAD.
Verdict WOULDNT DO IT ANY OTHER WAY.

this statement is no longer valid as the new detroit's are easy and noise free to drive on and off road. and as knotty7 said landed for $780 pluss $400 USD for the axles, thats cheaper than any other locker/axle combo on the market.

cheers phil

Phil and others, need some clarification, here's the scenario with a Detroit locker fitted to rear only, driving up a very steep, loose rock firetrail (which would be impassable with standard open diff) when a very sharp right/left hand switchback/hairpin bend of the same steepness appears
Does the Detroit locker Dis-engage while trying to negotiate this sharp bend and revert back to a standard open diff as it does on tarmac.
My understanding is that Detroit lockers are ALWAYS LOCKED when driving straight ahead, BUT UNLOCK while turning, I am wondering what would happen in the scenario described in the off-road situation, Regards Frank.

Vehicle 1
Make of Locker: ARB
Type of Locker: Airlocker (Rover front Sals rear)
Front, Rear or both: Both
Actuation: 80 psi compressed air provided by converted AC compressor
Main Type of Off-road driving: Touring / sand (some mud/rock)
Verdict: 100% happy. Work as they should. Both bought 2nd hand. Front overhauled and converted to 24-spline by McNamara

Vehicle 2
Make of Locker: Maxi-Drive
Type of Locker: Sals
Front, Rear or both: Rear
Actuation: 15 psi compressed air provided by converted AC compressor (need to reverse connectors to blow instead of suck at piston end)
Main Type of Off-road driving: Anything that looks fun, as much rock as possible.
Verdict: 100% happy. Ok - one minor niggle, the actuator grub screw always needs retightening...

Originally Posted by Tank

Phil and others, need some clarification, here's the scenario with a Detroit locker fitted to rear only, driving up a very steep, loose rock firetrail (which would be impassable with standard open diff) when a very sharp right/left hand switchback/hairpin bend of the same steepness appears
Does the Detroit locker Dis-engage while trying to negotiate this sharp bend and revert back to a standard open diff as it does on tarmac.
My understanding is that Detroit lockers are ALWAYS LOCKED when driving straight ahead, BUT UNLOCK while turning, I am wondering what would happen in the scenario described in the off-road situation, Regards Frank.

It depends if the wheels both have sufficient traction. If the surface is very loose the detroit probably won't unlock and the back end will just slide around.

Originally Posted by olle

Hi new to forum, live in New Zealand and get off road at least 1'ce a week, mostly forestry tracks, muddy clay and also sand/dunes on beach. I am intrested in advice on diff locks front and rear. Heard alot of good and bad things about ARB Airlockers. Did have a 4.6L P38 Ranger Rover in past and found onboard air to be a bit unreliable, with leaks however first to aknowledge that maintance was low as this was a bush basher. Tending towards Detriot Locker for rear, no idea about front. Welcome advice and comments, also recomendations on suppliers esp in New Zealand, But regularly visit USA and have no issues importing parts either.

I have the lockers mentioned above, and have never had any reliability issues. Though there are a few aspects of the ARB design I don't like (including the o-rings) however no problems so far. I have also found my home-built OBA system to be reliable. The only issue I had was one of my oil/water filters once blocked, causing a hose to be blown off.

Detroits are probably more fit-and-forget though. Though you can't fit one in the front. ex-usa is probably the cheapest option. Keith at Rovertracks is good to deal with.

Phil and others, need some clarification, here's the scenario with a Detroit locker fitted to rear only, driving up a very steep, loose rock firetrail (which would be impassable with standard open diff) when a very sharp right/left hand switchback/hairpin bend of the same steepness appears
Does the Detroit locker Dis-engage while trying to negotiate this sharp bend and revert back to a standard open diff as it does on tarmac.
My understanding is that Detroit lockers are ALWAYS LOCKED when driving straight ahead, BUT UNLOCK while turning, I am wondering what would happen in the scenario described in the off-road situation, Regards Frank.

No it doesn't if on a slippery surface and you tend to plough straight ahead or make a very wide turn as the diff remains locked. It doesn't happen very often but it does happen.
Regards Philip A