Thread: Diff lockers for Defender HardTop 2009

Originally Posted by robglewis

Thanks for the advice...really appreciate it.
I did get similar advice from Andrew at Less Richmond Auto in VIC...but was quoting about $7K.

Regards, Rob Lewis

About half of that is labour. You can save a lot if you are happy to bolt and unbolt things yourself. You can also do one axle at a time to save money.

Rob, don't be too concerned about the Elocker. The technology has been around for decades and was use in the Pajero in the 80's and has been around in various guises since. Harrop sell a range of elockers for the Rover front and rear diff, P38 and salisbury housings. Expect to pay about $2,000 to $2,100 fitted + uprated axles and flanges for the rear. The salisbury will be more expensive.

I have an Elocker. 1 button press for on, press button again for off. Seamless and works every time. John RVR110 also have one in the front and from his comments he is happy with his purchase.

Pick whatever locker fits your price range and needs. All of the available lockers on the market, be it ARB, Ashcroft, Harrop, TJM, Detroit will be more than adequate for the weekend warrior.

Rob, best not take advice from a forum member that does not have first hand knowledge of the person they are criticising. Gordon at Opp Lock S Sydney does good work. He built my 110 and was charged with building my 130. If you have a look at my build thread you'll see what work was done. Was your conversation with Gordon over the phone as a general enquiry or did you going into detail of what you want and what is the best solution exploring the various options? There is a difference in expectation of both parties depending on the purpose of the conversation.

As for the front diff, it depends on what you want to do. If touring is your gig, an ATB is more than adequate. If technical crawling is your gig, go the front locker. If the later, budget for CV's and axles.

MLD

I dont care weather it was a brief phone call or a sit down appointment. Its simple advice that should be given by everyone selling lockers for LR vehicles. They were breaking axles before lockers were fitted....

Originally Posted by robglewis

Thanks for the advice...really appreciate it.
I did get similar advice from Andrew at Less Richmond Auto in VIC...but was quoting about $7K.

Regards, Rob Lewis

If your in the melb area and are handy with taking the centres out i have a contact that can set up the diff locks in the centres for you he could do the whole job but if you want to save some bucks.
Just a heads up i have one ashcroft pegged air locker and one arb but will be ditching the arb for another ashcroft locker.
You can get a ashcroft locker delivered to your door cheaper by about $300,00 than a arb

Thanks Andy, definitely gives me another good option to consider, and may be the perfect solution, as i do plan to do more raodtrips etc that actual rockcrawling etc.

Originally Posted by rangieman

If your in the melb area and are handy with taking the centres out i have a contact that can set up the diff locks in the centres for you he could do the whole job but if you want to save some bucks.
Just a heads up i have one ashcroft pegged air locker and one arb but will be ditching the arb for another ashcroft locker.
You can get a ashcroft locker delivered to your door cheaper by about $300,00 than a arb

Any reason you are ditching the ARB.....is there a noticeable difference.??

Thanks mate, and yip, I probably should have spent more time discussing my needs with Gordon. I have recently gone back to him and he still feels that fitting elockers to my LR Hard Top which has the Heavy Duty Pack (upgrated suspension and a reinforced chassis) should be fine, as he would prefer the axle breaking as opposed to something else...giving me more options to repair while out and about.
I'm also considering maybe just going with the Limited Slip Differential option...thoughts?

Ah thanks man, appreciate the offer, but I am in Sydney.