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Thread: recurrent leak in ARB airlocker

  1. 5th May 2013, 06:28 PM #1
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    recurrent leak in ARB airlocker

    I bought my 2008 130 with an airlocker fitted to the rear diff by the original owner. The airlocker was leaking air into the diff housing and not locking. I got a transmission specialist to replace the seals in the locker, all seemed well. He filled the diff with top-shelf synthetic diff oil (Castrol I think) at great expense to myself. That was about 4 months ago and the locker has done almost zero work since.
    This week I was in the high country and tackling some challenging tracks; first time I engaged the airlocker was for about 2 seconds in a critical part of a climb. Seemed to work. The next time I attempted to engage the airlocker, the compressor continued to run, the diff failed to lock, and the familiar smell of hot diff oil vented via the breather. No more locking rear diff- very disappointing. Obviously it is going to have to come out and apart again. Will probably do it myself this time.
    Is there anything in particular that I should look for, other than the obvious possibility of a scored surface where the seals run? Could synthetic gear oil have caused premature failure of the seals? I really want to get this thing working reliably as it should.
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  2. 5th May 2013, 09:08 PM #2
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    There not hard to replace its not the best design tho later models have a different lolly pop and seals
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  3. 6th May 2013, 10:10 AM #3
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    I finally got around to refitting the older ARB locker to the rear of our Disco after years on the bench. I had to chase up new seals - harder than anticipated since it's one of the early 4 bolt cylinder housings and ARB had to go on a goose chase to find someone who knew the correct part number. Something came up in discussion regarding the recent model lockers. According to the guru at ARB, the seal housing tube on the newer ones should be left as long as possible when fitted and part of the reason that they have a bad reputation for leaking is that installers make the mistake of chopping it as short as possible for some reason. The extra length reduces the stress on the seals.

    Just a thought.
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  4. 6th May 2013, 07:03 PM #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by MacMan View Post
    I finally got around to refitting the older ARB locker to the rear of our Disco after years on the bench. I had to chase up new seals - harder than anticipated since it's one of the early 4 bolt cylinder housings and ARB had to go on a goose chase to find someone who knew the correct part number. Something came up in discussion regarding the recent model lockers. According to the guru at ARB, the seal housing tube on the newer ones should be left as long as possible when fitted and part of the reason that they have a bad reputation for leaking is that installers make the mistake of chopping it as short as possible for some reason. The extra length reduces the stress on the seals.

    Just a thought.
    That's pretty much what I was told by the guy at ARB Dandenong today when I went in there to get some new seals in readiness for the repair job. They have a specific way that the copper tubing should be routed in the diff housing to allow some flexibility and self-aligning of the seal housing, and some installers ignore this and do their own thing with the tubing. This may explain why the locker had failed prior to me buying the vehicle, and has failed again so soon after repair. I think I'll get a new seal housing and tubing, so I can set it up the way it's supposed to be. ARB recommend replacing the housing if seals are replaced, but they didn't have one in stock- they are apparently made to order. The guy was very helpful, even copied the whole installation manual for me to show the proper tubing route.
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  5. 6th May 2013, 08:48 PM #5
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    Good to hear Pete. Initially I had trouble finding someone who cared enough about a 20 year old locker that needed seals, but eventually I found him. I guess they all know the Jap fitments inside and out but when it comes to specifics for Rover gear, well... you know what happens. Best of luck getting it sorted. I had a grin on my face again when I went off to have a play with the locker again after all this time tripping over it in the garage, this time with new thrust washers, bearings and a CW & P set that don't whine.
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