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| Sonic3d Member Since: 28 Jan 2008 Location: Ross on Wye Posts: 1505   
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They are good but require a lot of cutting and welding of the axle casing, compressors are small and easy to hide and useful for inflating tyres. And you might not have a pipe running to the axle but you still need a 12v feed to actuate it.
With an arb it's easy to remove if you change the vehicle. |
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1st Mar 2011 9:34pm |
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| nicknick Member Since: 28 Feb 2011 Location: halifax Posts: 30  
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thanks sonic, i can see your point about compressor being useful and being easy to swop an ARB. decisions,decisions
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1st Mar 2011 9:48pm |
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| T1G UP Member Since: 08 Dec 2009 Location: Bath Posts: 3101 
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i've just bought a true trac LSD for the rear of my 90.
fit and forget, i'll get one for the front when i find another cheapy |
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1st Mar 2011 10:54pm |
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| big steve Member Since: 24 Dec 2009 Location: hertfordshire Posts: 2456 
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i went down the route of an arb in the back then i blew the front diff up and was like what do i do now
lsd for front or locker ? everyone who i spoke to said if you get an lsd put it in the back and put the locker in the front ? why ? because you can control the frotn end when you need it you cant tell an lsd to to engauge or not engauge it will do as it wants id go arb every time you only have to ring devon and ask their advise ? steve 2015 2.2 tdci hardtop xs 3.2 conversion DONE 238bhp and 707nm torque and thats just the start ;-P hybrid turbo in build -done ready to fit ashcroft atb in transfer box 6 speed auto in build |
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2nd Mar 2011 9:43am |
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| SteveS Member Since: 05 Oct 2010 Location: Devon & Berkshire Posts: 388 
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From a personal perspective I'd go for ARB locker on the rear first - then decide if you want to get that extra few % of traction that a locker/lsd can provide. From my own perspective I went for ARB front as well - some would say this is over the top - but with Ashcroft half shafts what I wanted was that unequivocal traction driven equally on all four corners. Locking diffs for me - whether KAM or ARB - give me that absolute knowledge that everything is locked together and driving me out of a cross axle or mud-bath.
A locker on the front (particularly) brings with it a certain responsibility to be sympathetic to the drive train and understanding of transmission wind-up - an LSD is very tolerant but unltimately lacks the absolute control of a locker......only a small point and personal preference and style will ultimately set your approach. If you're the sort of person that may forget to disengage a locker then go for a different system.....it will get expensive otherwise. Like the earlier post said I'd recommend a chat to Devon 4x4 |
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2nd Mar 2011 9:05pm |
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| ickle Member Since: 22 Jul 2010 Location: South Vendee Posts: 1822  
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For competion friends say ARB Lockers can't be beaten, for less serious agressive driving Detroit Locker in the back & a True Trac in the front were superb in my 100" - even across feilds with a laden Ifor 4 wheel tipper in tow......Sometimes had to left foot brake to fool diffs into evening up torque - Steve at crown diffs was really helpful.
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2nd Mar 2011 10:02pm |
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| T1G UP Member Since: 08 Dec 2009 Location: Bath Posts: 3101
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yes using the brakes with an lsd works. i'm only gonna have to peddles, and i got two feet so lsd for me
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2nd Mar 2011 10:37pm |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 8170  
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another good alternative is the new ashcroft range, soon to be out of lockers (air op) plus lsd's etc - which i believe they are still testing.
lockers are cheaper than the ARB ones generally. Cheers James 110 2010 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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3rd Mar 2011 9:35am |
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| walfy Member Since: 29 Aug 2007 Location: Frome Posts: 2673
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In my 90 challenge truck I now have ARB front and rear. Would I change? Not a chance. Work perfectly everytime and bloody good bit of kit. I know Ashcrofts will be releasing a range of lockers onto the market soon. As for KAM, the work involved to fit puts me off plus a few other factors.
If you fit ARB's they are fit and forget. And you get an air comp for inflating tyres etc. I had Dave fit mine to my diffs. I delivered the diffs when I collected the shafts/CV's and drive members and within a week I had a delivery of 2 built of diffs. Fitted them and not any hint of dramas or issues. But it does come at a cost. I spent the wrong side of 2K to get Ashcroft kit right through my axles. But I'm glad I did 110 D250 SE HT 110 USW SOLD RRE HSE Dynamic Gone, wife killed it VOLVO XC60 R Dynamic with some toys Polaris RZR 900XP SOLD |
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3rd Mar 2011 10:27am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17603 
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I have ARBs front and rear in my Series 1 86" and can't fault them. I like the predictability and total control they provide, which can't really be matched by any non-manual lock. The compressed air is a bonus too.
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3rd Mar 2011 10:30am |
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| BigMike Member Since: 13 Jul 2010 Location: Lancashire Posts: 2253
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I have an Ashcroft one on the rear, can't fault it. As a general observation though, the thing about half shafts breaking with lockers in operation - I think you have to be fairly selective about how it's used ie not when you're hugely bogged down and thre's a chance the tyres will acquire hard grip and twist the shaft(s) significantly. I'm using it where there is significant articulation - for example in wales a couple of weeks ago, there was a section that no defender could get up no matter what. This was a combination of 90's and 110's. Put the locker on, left it in low first pottling along on the anti-stall. It just burbled up and through with no drama at all at less than walking pace. Cue lots of confused faces, and me milking it for all it was worth, saying it was driver ability  |
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3rd Mar 2011 12:23pm |
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| BigMike Member Since: 13 Jul 2010 Location: Lancashire Posts: 2253
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Mind you, it was sod all help in mid wales before christmas going up a compacted snow track, as willy can testify to
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3rd Mar 2011 12:24pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17603
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[quote="BigMike"]
It's the old principle, "engage brain before difflocks" again! 
With an open diff, the max power you can put into a halfshaft is limited by the grip that the wheel with least traction can provide. With a locked diff, it is the wheel with the most traction. In some sitautions that can mean that all the power from your remapped, decatted, tuned Puma is doing its best to tie one halfshaft in a knot; in this case the engine will win, the halfshaft will lose. If you fit upgraded halfshafts so that they are no longer the weakest link, then the next weakest component will fail. Halfshafts are designed to fail first to protect the rest of the transmission. But as responsible and skilled off-road drivers, we always know how much traction we have and drive sympathetically, don't we?  |
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3rd Mar 2011 2:17pm |
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| willy eckerslike Member Since: 15 Jun 2009 Location: North yorks Posts: 1789 
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Absolutely  But you can fish tail better with a locked diff Original Member Pie n Pea Club.
110 HCPU Tipper |
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3rd Mar 2011 2:56pm |
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