Thread: ARB Front Locker Available.....soonish

Seeing as how the RRS and the Disco is basically the same underneath...would that mean the diff lock would fit say a 2006 sport? I know someone who is trying to get more traction to keep up with my D4!

Just got back from a trip up in the high country showing a brother from Brissy a few sights to a message from a mate at ARB about a new front diff lock, couldn't believe it! For those that are seeing it negatively I see it as a real positive. We constantly whine about ARB not providing enough accessories for the D3/D4 and yet when they produce what I believe to be a world first the negative comments come out. Would I prefer to have a rear diff lock? Bloody oath. Would I prefer to have a diff lock or not have a diff lock? Well I think it's obvious. I think we need to give ARB the credit they deserve in assisting us D3/D4 owners who take our fourbys out a better vehicle again.

Cheers
Julian

The thing is Julian, there are some people on this forum who do know what they are talking about.
And then again ARB do have engineers that know the stuff, and you would think that they have tested the front diff in real world on the D4 and 3.
I don't need one, but waiting to see those that have them fitted if they work with the terrain response or will cause damage.
Time will tell.
But research would suggest that maybe there are plenty of D4 and 3's out there that don't have a rear diff. A rear diff majority of the time will be far more useful than a front locker. Fitting a front locker to a gu patrol.....those that ever did that, wished that had put it on the rear. The rear LSD is great, but not as good as a locker. I know this from experience and from my fathers business that specialist in offroad accessories.
Brett.....

Originally Posted by discotwinturbo

The thing is Julian, there are some people on this forum who do know what they are talking about.
And then again ARB do have engineers that know the stuff, and you would think that they have tested the front diff in real world on the D4 and 3.
I don't need one, but waiting to see those that have them fitted if they work with the terrain response or will cause damage.
Time will tell.
But research would suggest that maybe there are plenty of D4 and 3's out there that don't have a rear diff. A rear diff majority of the time will be far more useful than a front locker. Fitting a front locker to a gu patrol.....those that ever did that, wished that had put it on the rear. The rear LSD is great, but not as good as a locker. I know this from experience and from my fathers business that specialist in offroad accessories.
Brett.....

I suspect ARB went for the front locker first - both due to the e-diff, but also due to the fact that it was easier - I have posted comments before by ARB R&D engineers that it was going to be a lot of work and expense to design a locker for the rear.

I have seen plenty of patrols in action on the east coast that went amazingly well offroad with a front locker and a rear LSD.

"I have seen plenty of patrols in action on the east coast that went amazingly well offroad with a front locker and a rear LSD"

Full articulation with wheel of the ground and the LSD is useless. We performed tests with clients time and time again to prove to them having a rear locker was superior than LSD and front locker....it always went further when full articulation was part of the course. Most situations are on a climb, and the front unloading saw the locker working, but no forward movement....LSD did nothing. Same spots with rear locker made it comfortably. Then double diff locked is better again.

Customers always chose the rear locker then.

Rear locker being more difficult to develop makes sense.

Brett....

Originally Posted by discotwinturbo

"I have seen plenty of patrols in action on the east coast that went amazingly well offroad with a front locker and a rear LSD"

Full articulation with wheel of the ground and the LSD is useless. We performed tests with clients time and time again to prove to them having a rear locker was superior than LSD and front locker....it always went further when full articulation was part of the course. Most situations are on a climb, and the front unloading saw the locker working, but no forward movement....LSD did nothing. Same spots with rear locker made it comfortably. Then double diff locked is better again.

Customers always chose the rear locker then.

Rear locker being more difficult to develop makes sense.

Brett....

My observations are completely opposite. I have seen (and have video somewhere) of patrols with only a front locker climbing as well as a twin locked 110 or RR/Disco. The LSDs may have been modified, however the owners of course always complained they didn't work...

Also - one of the 4x4 mags did a front vs rear locker test, and found that front-only (+LSD?) was better than rear only.


EDIT:
4wheelingOZ Products Page

Went off road with a mate last weekend.
He has a new Patrol with front diff lock. I have the e-diff.
Had to pull him out 3 times, wheras I didnt get bogged at all.

Having said this, the main issues here were him being slung up due to the deep muddy wheel ruts. I used the Llams to raise it up enough to clear the underside of mine.

Cheers, Craig

When I had my defender I had F and R air lockers. The combinations were great C locked with just front or just back or all three etc. I found that just the front locker in the sand was the best and occasionly with the C locked as well. as for climbing up rocks all three on and would turn off F for sharp cornering ( unless I was poping wheels in the air ) As for the D3 needing a F locker, The TC and E Dif work unbelievably well and I would not go this way. It would be interesting the watch a few in action though.

connock