Arb or Detroit

[velasco]

im looking in buying a locker for the front which one would you guys recommend?

[CrawlerBrennan]

arb

[superyota]

arb

x2

[velasco]

alright sounds like arb is the way to go

[superyota]

selectable locker in the front is nice. without it, steering can sometimes be a challenge, not to mention the extra stress on your axles that really doesn't need to be there with a non-selectable locker such as a detroit.

[BoG-ToY]

for sure ARB....

you could go elocker if you didnt mind modifying the housing... but selectable is always best....

when your on ICE or DEEP SAND you dont want to be locked AT ALL.   (if your stuck and going STRAIT locked is good, but the second you turn that wheel you want it open or your making things worse)

[CrawlerBrennan]

i know a guy that can sell you one just fyi

[Rocksnail]

Arb all the way, Wish i had the cash when i was building my axles, i would have them front and rear. My buddy just did front and rear arb in his 3rd gen and it rocks. he daily drives his truck and likes the fact that he has traction at a flip of a switch. When we go wheeling he leaves both axles open and just flips them on as needed. spend the cash youll be happy you did

[Rocksurfer]

Sorry but I'm Detroit 100%, it is always there ready to go no air lines to worry about, no compressor, no relief valves, no switches, nothing but positive 100% traction 100% of the time.

[bigarms23]

arb

[Slolyfe]

ARB all the way. Its failed once and it was because I pinched an air line. Had it fixed in 10 min.

[wakkjobb]

selectable locker in the front is nice. without it, steering can sometimes be a challenge, not to mention the extra stress on your axles that really doesn't need to be there with a non-selectable locker such as a detroit.

Bingo; ARB for sure... it's on my "next axle" list.

>>Dan

[Yoda4x478]

ARBs are awesome if you have the money to spend. I went the cheaper route with the detroit.

[swapped89]

I have a Detroit rear and arb front wish I had arb front and rear. Been runnin the arb for a sold year now I think. No problems ever.

[codyps85]

Thanks for the info guys. I am currently running an AUSSIE locker in the rear and I'm not too thrilled with it. I was looking to get a new set up front (currently open) and rear. I think I'm going to do Detroit rear and ARB front. For sure!

[87hillbillyoter]

Thanks for the info guys. I am currently running an AUSSIE locker in the rear and I'm not too thrilled with it. I was looking to get a new set up front (currently open) and rear. I think I'm going to do Detroit rear and ARB front. For sure!

might as well just spend the little bit of extra money to get arb f/r because it will be that much more worth it in the long run... just my

[BoG-ToY]

someone on here has a reasonable deal on a pair of ARBs on here right now.... AND they are easy to install... for installing ARB's, all you need is a drill, a tap, a torque wrench and a dial indicator with magnetic base that can be had at Harbor Freight for like 20-35 bucks.  measure your current backlash, mark your bearing cabs 1 and 2 (and mark the diff side 1 and 2)
most likely you have 4cyl housings... so your gonna have to get new carrier bearings for the  ARB anyways... put your ring gear on the ARB housings, new bearings... set the backlash back where it was. put the air collar on and route the hoses, drill and tap carefully to prevent contamination (drilling and tapping upside down helps the chips fall out of the diff)  , loctite where needed and torque to spec.

www.gearinstalls.com has great write ups to see how do do this right

[locked 4x4]

Sorry but I'm Detroit 100%, it is always there ready to go no air lines to worry about, no compressor, no relief valves, no switches, nothing but positive 100% traction 100% of the time.

I thought the exact same thing.  Then I got a truck with an ARB.

[skid]

Arb's are nice, but more complicated and way more expensive.  If you want to deal with a air compressor, lines, and the added cost, go for it.

As for a Detroit putting added stress?  I believe it's minimal. It still allows your tires to turn different speeds, but locks up when needed.  Arb's when engaged are spooled untill you turn it off.  Toss up if you ask me.
If you worried about it, you might as well leave it open, or better yet leave it in two wheel drive.

My votes for the simplicity of a Detroit.  I always chuckle when someone forgets to engage their ARB and get stuck.

[hilux-1983]

Lotta good info, keep it coming. I'm undecided too. Although, I won't put any locker up front until I have the longs or unclean 30's to install too. I'd hate to hear that noise when a stock birf lets loose and then say, shoulda coulda woulda.  .

[joeycool00]

None of the above, Id save my pennies and go E-locker, once you have that you'll never go back!

[Rocksurfer]

None of the above, Id save my pennies and go E-locker, once you have that you'll never go back!

I didn't mention elockers since he didn't mention wanting one.

[joeycool00]

I didn't mention elockers since he didn't mention wanting one.

Just like when I voted this year, I didnt like the candidates that were offered to me, so i wrote my own in the blank.....LOL

[SCyotacrawler420]

its all prefernece, i had an arb an those air lines leak sometimes, if your in a tricky line an your up to your axles in mud an your line gets snagged, starts leaking, compressor dies, switch fails... how pissed are you at that point?

i also had a detroit where as a detroit doesnt have those problems ever, although you dont have the ability of turning your locker on an off. which is nice to have in a couple different scenarios.

open sucks but hey, youll never have a problem

e-lockers are not good. plain an simple. anyone of my friends that had one had to put a cable in it cause the electrical goes out. not water safe or mud friendly. unless you want a full spool cause the electrical will go out then its permanetly locked unless your getting out of your truck an pressing the little pin out to unlock it

thats my 

[velasco]

that is my worry with a arb i dont want the lines going out on me which then leads to me getting stuck...

[LD]

I have ran arb's in several rigs. Never had a problem and if you mount ur compressor under the hood you will have plenty of air line left over if you need it. Its not hard to change the line if you have to 

[zippo]

ARB all the way, you can always get some braided line. Might cost some $$ but not more worries.

[yota4x4sc]

its all prefernece, i had an arb an those air lines leak sometimes, if your in a tricky line an your up to your axles in mud an your line gets snagged, starts leaking, compressor dies, switch fails... how pissed are you at that point?

i also had a detroit where as a detroit doesnt have those problems ever, although you dont have the ability of turning your locker on an off. which is nice to have in a couple different scenarios.

open sucks but hey, youll never have a problem

e-lockers are not good. plain an simple. anyone of my friends that had one had to put a cable in it cause the electrical goes out. not water safe or mud friendly. unless you want a full spool cause the electrical will go out then its permanetly locked unless your getting out of your truck an pressing the little pin out to unlock it

thats my 

yep i had the stupid electric locker and will never do that again.. arb all the way.. or detroit as 2nd choice

[Snowtoy]

In the 8+ years my buddies and I have been running ARB's(10 different rigs), not once have I seen an air line fail or ARB not do to engage do to the air line, that wasn't directly attributed to installer error.  During that same time I have only seen one break, and it had been well abused in a comp buggy before a buddy purchased it, and ran it hard himself for bout 4yrs before it finally broke.  The truck was still drivable, it just wouldn't engage, the flange cap bolts sheered off.

[zippo]

ARB's area also servicable! and repairable!