Thread: ARB lockers...how to check they are working?

when I had troubles with the air locker in my little Suzuki the way I tested it was to lift both back wheels off the ground using axle stands.

If I rotated the back right wheel and the back left one rotated in the opposite or didn't spin at all that meant the diff was open.

but if the back left spun in the same direction that meant the diff was locked.

not 100% sure if you will have to lift the front wheels as well because of the permanent 4wd.

hope you dont find any nasties which cost too much to fix

What you have described is a center diff not locked or possibly broken.

I agree with Red90. If neither of the rear wheels are moving, then there is no drive to the rear axle and the centre diff lock is clearly not engaging. 130man.

Originally Posted by Red90

What you have described is a center diff not locked or possibly broken.

Red90 is right, your ARB lockers when locked deliver even drive left/right, it is your central locker that gives even drive to front/rear. By the sounds of it if your front wheels were both spinning (and spinning at the same rate) then your front locker is working fine.

Maybe you were in low range instead of locked diff?

Originally Posted by streaky

Whilst in the sand dunes at the weekend I managed to get high centered in my Discovery.
The normal procedure is to flip the switches (compressor and F&R ARB's), engage all three lockers (front, center and rear) and drive out.

I thought the procedure was to engage CDL before hitting dunes or other surface where the chance of wheel slippage can occur?

Sometimes in my 110 I have to drive for a metre or so before CDL becomes engaged. If this is the case with your Disco too it might explain why you had no drive to the back as you engaged once stuck.

Thx guys.
I was driving in Hi-range with the CDL engaged. This is normal practice for me when dune driving.

Upon getting hi-centered/cross axled I activated both front and rear ARB's and also put the transfer box into Lo-Range. At was at this point I realized my rear end wasn't locked up.

Originally Posted by DefenderJim

Red90 is right, your ARB lockers when locked deliver even drive left/right, it is your central locker that gives even drive to front/rear. By the sounds of it if your front wheels were both spinning (and spinning at the same rate) then your front locker is working fine.

Understood mate but I'm talking about drive distribution between front and back axles...not left and right.