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Arb Air locker

gooberkoch

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October 2, 2001
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City, State
Clifton, KS
Year, Model & Trim Level
'96 XLT
Does an Arb Air locker w/ compressor come with both front and rear locking differentials. i checked out the site but it's confusin the hell out of me. help me if you know. this is kind of a dumb question, thanx
 



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From my understanding, it only comes with one locker, but the compressor has the capability of working two.
 






You buy a locker that's all you get is the locker. You have to buy the compressor that's all you get is the compressor. Everything is sold seperately
 






Hmm, let's see if I can help you out when it comes to ARB...


$$$$$$$$$$$$$

:D I checked into 'em, and I know they're really good lockers, but man, are they ever expensive!

Like Ray and PV said, you'd have to buy them seperately, and two different lockers if you wanted one for each diff.
 






locker related

This isn't about the ARB, but it is about lockers, I'm thinking of welding my rear 9" and then getting a locker for the front 44, which do you guys prefer?(besides ARB).:D
 






Detroits are really good. They've been around for awhile and I've never heard a bad thing...
 






How are LockRights and Auburns? I thought Auburns were supposed to be good, but I have not heard that much about LockRights. Auburn might not make one for the 44 though. I don't know.
 






Tex: do a search there are a lot of threads on this subject that are very indepth also you could check out the suppliers web site.
 






When it comes down to it all lockers are pretty expensive. Since you are going to make this kind of investment, make sure you know why you want lockers, and what you expect from them.

What kind of wheelin, if any do you do? Or is this a street application? I presume in your case, since you have a 4x4, you want the lockers for wheelin.

The next question is what kind of wheelin.

ARB are hard to beat for serious wheelin on rocks and the steep stuff. By the way someone has come out with an electric locker for the 8.8" rearend, but they don't plan on doing one for the Dana 35.

"Lockers" - These have come a long way. Some of the newer models are very nice, but they are still noisy, and can be dangerous for winter driving. "Detroit Locker" sets the standard.

The lockers that fit into your existing carrier have had mixed reviews. I have noi experience, but articles indicate that they don't measure up in the durability department. If you are changing your gear ratio you may also need to buy a new carrier.

I would NOT put one of these in the front differential.


Limited slips are good, but there is a high degree of variation. From my experience with lockers here is what I have observed....

Torsen - This is a really good unit, and won't wear out (no clutches). There is not a model for the Dana 35 front diff. I loved my Torsen that I put into a Dodge. It engaged / disengaged flawlessly, was smooth, quiet, and handled well on and off the road.

Auburn - This is also a high quality unit. The clutch pack will wear out, and is NOT repairable. It is designed for street racing / track use. It is probably the most popular unit at the local track. It makes a good 4x4 unit as well. You can get it in two different torque bias's

Traction-lok - The stock unit in the Expolorer and other Fords. This is a clutch type unit that is rebuildable, but it is not near as agressive as the Auburn units. It will wear out much quicker than the Auburn as well. It's not a bad unit, but it was designed for all around use. The bias is set up so that it still has good street maners, which compromises is versatility as an off road unit.

Spools - These are great on the track only, otherwise DON'T. You can only put them in the rear. You can drive them on the street, but your tires will wear out VERY quickly, and you can't drive on snow or ice.
 






Think about what you are going to do with your vehicle before deciding on what locker to get.
A full locker in the front end is a plus off road but can cause problems on the street, that is if you use it.
A locked diff in the front, while on the street, will cause the front end to slide when engaged on plowed streets, creating an accident looking for a place to happen.

A front locking diff can be deingaged when on the street and used either way off roading.
A locking diff off-road can be a handy thing when on a hill and waiting for the front end to slip sideways, by unlocking the diff, so it pulls with only one wheel in the front, you won't slip or not as bad.

I am using the new OX Locker in a D44 and it is great. Right now it is giving me no problems.

Good Luck,
 






Originally posted by Guy Groves

Auburn - This is also a high quality unit. The clutch pack will wear out, and is NOT repairable. It is designed for street racing / track use. It is probably the most popular unit at the local track. It makes a good 4x4 unit as well. You can get it in two different torque bias's


Is this true? My Auburn is gonna wear out like stock and then have to be junked because I can't rebuild it? My dad said that they don't wear out and they use cones instead of clutches...Anyone have a second opinion? No offense to Guy Groves:(
 












The Auburn is a very good unit and well respected. It shoud not wear out quickly or like the stock unit, but it will wear. I did not mean to make it sound as though you will have to buy a new one every year or two. That's hardly the case. It does depend upon your driving habits. The more you exercise the auburn, or any clutch system (and the cones are a clutch system), the more wear will occur. By the way, I can also break my ARB at any time, or the seal could wear out and need repair, etc, etc....

If I were installing an Auburn, and it was on my list of options, I would expect it to last ME about 3-5 years given the way & conditions I drive my vehicle. If I only did occasional 4 wheelin I would expect it to last much longer. It would last a "grocery getter" a lifetime. If I had it in a Cobra Mustang it would only last ME a few years and I would be greatfull to get a year out of a set of tires.

Another consideration.... How long do you plan on keeping your X? Like many of the people on this board I like my explorer and part of the "fun" of it all is playing (enhancing, breaking and repairing the damn thing). My X is a 92, ten years old, with over 200,000 miles and I don't plan on getting rid of it any time soon.

Like Sandy said .... Think HARD about what you plan on doing with your vehicle, and be honest with yourself. I don't care what locker you get, any one of them is an investment. There's no cheap "disposable" solution.

Good luck deciding ....
 






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