Lockers - ARB or Electric?

[EricCartman]

Hi All,

I've come to the point where I am thinking about doing lockers...  I'm pretty sure I want to get a selectable locker.  So that leaves pretty much ARB or Toyota E-lockers.

There are several things I like about the Toyota e-lockers...  such as being factory parts and they can be manually operated if needed.  The part that I don't like so much - is the welding/drilling/tapping to my existing housing to get these to fit.

The ARBs seems quite nice too - since they are fast to engauge and I don't have to do any modification to the axle housings.  The only thing that makes me a little leary is that this is controlled by air.  I would think eventually a seal could fail and that would be the end of it.  I have not read any posts about this happening... but I suppose it could.

My plan was to buy the complete 3rd members from Marlin - and do the install myself.  This can be easily done with the ARB option - but the e-locker would be a bit more difficult.  I would have to pull the axle housing and get the machine work done at a competent shop.

What do you all think?  Would it be worth the hassle to pull the axle housings out to get the machine work done and a shop so that I could have e-lockers?


Thanks,
Cartman

[red]

really it comes down to preference. the arb company has not had an actual locker fail, but if you run the lines incorrectly you can have a line fail (run it too close to the exhaust, run it so the line can bind up/break, etc...). but, with the arb you also get a compressor so you can air up your tires after a trail ride.

e locker is more of a pain to set up as you mentioned but doesnt have the potential problems of installing the lines incorrectly.

[Volcom]

I think both are great lockers.  What I don't like about the E locker is the engagement time.  Sometimes they engage right away, other times it can take 5-10 seconds.  With the ARB, it's instant.  My brother has been running ARB's F&R in his YJ for over 2 years, no problems at all.

[~tc~]

99.99999% of the problems with ARB's are installation related.

I priced out both options, and if you want any degree of on-board air the ARB route is cheaper.

[OOPS]

I prefer ARB's because of how fast the lockup compared to the e-locker. Either one are good. The two problems I have had in ten years of running them both have been installer error.

As far as using the ARB compressor as OBA, I would not do it. It wearsthe compressor out prematurely. First five years I had mine in I used it and I had to rebuild the pump part. Cost was only thirty dollars  for a complete kit but the bad part was it started leaking bad on a Con run.

[TurtleTappers91]

The ARB is cool because you can lock it up on the fly. It works well. The mini compressors are nice too, pretty reliable...
I have had two air line breaks, I think the blue plastic air hose is the weak link, I'v seen some beefy brake line style replacement hose for sale, but it is big $$$

[OOPS]

The ARB is cool because you can lock it up on the fly. It works well. The mini compressors are nice too, pretty reliable...
I have had two air line breaks, I think the blue plastic air hose is the weak link, I'v seen some beefy brake line style replacement hose for sale, but it is big $$$

I have been running the same blue line on the rear for ten years.

[TurtleTappers91]

The air lines can snag tree branches and crap when bushwackin'
It all depends on what your gonna do with it I guess...

[EricCartman]

Cool... thanks for all the input.  It sounds like either way is good will be just as good.  Now I just need to scratch up some coin.

[46&2]

99.99999% of the problems with ARB's are installation related.

I priced out both options, and if you want any degree of on-board air the ARB route is cheaper.

X2. I am going to go with an ARB when i can afford it. Wanted toyota E lockers but a few people have told me they fried theirs going through a lot of deep water repeatedly. where I live there is no end to the deep water so i cant have a locker that may potentialy get disabled by moisture.

[Rockcrawlintoy]

The air lines can snag tree branches and crap when bushwackin'
It all depends on what your gonna do with it I guess...

if u run the lines correctly you wont have this problem also u can use the heavy duty air lines which are much better.

Drew