Thread: ARB Airlockers for D3/D4

Why is that a waste of money?

As to the "fighting the electrickery" comments, I ask. If traction control works, only when it detects a difference in speed of wheels, then how would driving all wheels the same speed have any I'll effects? Traction control would just not do anything.

Will

Originally Posted by MR LR jnr.

Why is that a waste of money?

As to the "fighting the electrickery" comments, I ask. If traction control works, only when it detects a difference in speed of wheels, then how would driving all wheels the same speed have any I'll effects? Traction control would just not do anything.

Will

not unlike d2/fender with traction control.

Originally Posted by MR LR jnr.

As to the "fighting the electrickery" comments, I ask. If traction control works, only when it detects a difference in speed of wheels, then how would driving all wheels the same speed have any I'll effects?

Only when the ABS ecu gets upset if the steering wheel is not straight ahead yet both front wheels are travelling at the same speed which then triggers the suspension ecu to lower the vehicle to around access height. But perhaps the fault is only triggered for longer distances or for faster speeds.

Originally Posted by Graeme

Only when the ABS ecu gets upset if the steering wheel is not straight ahead yet both front wheels are travelling at the same speed which then triggers the suspension ecu to lower the vehicle to around access height. But perhaps the fault is only triggered for longer distances or for faster speeds.

Beat me to it (must learn to type faster)!

When the steering is turned to any significant degree, the TR system will expect the inside wheel to rotate at a slower rate than the outside. Any slippage noted by the system will be dampened by application of the individual front callipers, but it will still try to match the expected delta due to the steering angle. If the front wheels are externally “locked” in synchronised rotation via an air locker, the TR may interpret that as the inside wheel slipping and start to apply the brake on that wheel. The expected behaviour will conflict with actual behaviour and at some stage, this will likely cause either an error or a dead stop (similar to the DSC braking the car to a stop in slippery conditions). Selecting the “sand” TR setting with the DSC off should reduce this effect, but I don't think it will be entirely removed.

Secondly, most people who are familiar with using air lockers on vehicles assume that one can lock the centre diff. You can't manually do that in a D3/D4/RRS. So you can still have entire axles rotating at different speeds, again requiring the TC to kick in. Setting the TR to "rock crawl" would reduce this significantly, but that then conflicts with the "sand" setting required for the front axle. Lots of flicking switches and turning dials required ......

As I've said, I don't believe a front locker is necessary - if you use the TR correctly, you can (and we often do) have one front wheel completely off the ground, but still rotating as slowly as the other one with contact. As that is the only reason for having a front locker, what's the point?

Cheers,

Gordon

Originally Posted by isuzurover

Well no, the thing you have in the rear is not a locker, more of an active LSD.

Well to be fair, Land Rover describe it as a "Rear Locking Differential" in the parts listing and marketing blurb. I guess putting it the brochure as "kind of an automatic locking, with a hint of limited slip diff" wouldn't have the same ring to it.

Originally Posted by isuzurover

Since several people have had them replaced under warranty after wearing them out, I am guessing that the ARB would be a much better long term proposition, for those keeping their vehicle past the warranty period.

More than just several people have had issues with ARB lockers. There are points of failure for both.

But if you have the rear locking ediff, from the factory, then you get stronger rear axles with it too.

Originally Posted by Graeme

Only when the ABS ecu gets upset if the steering wheel is not straight ahead yet both front wheels are travelling at the same speed which then triggers the suspension ecu to lower the vehicle to around access height. But perhaps the fault is only triggered for longer distances or for faster speeds.

I'm no expert, but generally you don't/can't steer when front locker is on anyway.

Originally Posted by gghaggis

Any slippage noted by the system will be dampened by application of the individual front callipers, but it will still try to match the expected delta due to the steering angle. If the front wheels are externally “locked” in synchronised rotation via an air locker, the TR may interpret that as the inside wheel slipping and start to apply the brake on that wheel. The expected behaviour will conflict with actual behaviour and at some stage, this will likely cause either an error or a dead stop (similar to the DSC braking the car to a stop in slippery conditions). Selecting the “sand” TR setting with the DSC off should reduce this effect, but I don't think it will be entirely removed.

Actually, thinking about this a bit further, selecting "sand" will probably work better in a D3 than in a D4, as the latter has the "sand launch" feature which kicks in the TC for the first few seconds of take off. You'd have to balance it very carefully on the throttle at each take-off to avoid this (if you had a front locker engaged).

Cheers,

Gordon

Originally Posted by Graeme

Only when the ABS ecu gets upset if the steering wheel is not straight ahead yet both front wheels are travelling at the same speed which then triggers the suspension ecu to lower the vehicle to around access height. But perhaps the fault is only triggered for longer distances or for faster speeds.

This is all theoretical unless you have a front ARB locker fitted???

Originally Posted by sheerluck

...

More than just several people have had issues with ARB lockers. There are points of failure for both.

But if you have the rear locking ediff, from the factory, then you get stronger rear axles with it too.

I am no ARB fan, however IME most issues are with incorrect assembly (seals damaged or lack of loctite on ring gear bolts). I don't know of any ARB lockers which have ever failed in the true sense of the word, and my 2 ARBs are probably 20 years old now and still working as new.

Stronger axles are good! Hopefully ARB also have an option that allows you to fit an ARB locker to an e-diff vehicle when the e-diff wears out.