Update on my ARB situation from Moab 2000

[mattadams]

I mentioned this in the LOCKER??? thread, but thought I'd start another thread. Basically, in Moab in MAY, my locker blew. I didn't realize it of course, I just knew that my locker wasn't deactivating. I drove it back to town and had it worked on. Turns out I shredded my spider gears, one of them I shredded off three of 8 teeth, the other one I shredded off two of the 8 teeth. Well since I didn't realize it the parts of the spider gear that were left were swimming aorund in my diff fluid, taking chunks out of my ring and pinion, my bearings, and basically destroying the entire locker and everything with it. At the time it was my only vehicle so I couldn't afford to wait for them to prove my warranty, etc. I cleared it with ARB so I'd order a locker, get it sent out ASAP and pay for it upfront. Then after installing the new one I'd return the old one for a refund, simple right? Well of course for obvious reasons the warranty doesn't cover the ring and pinion, or the installation of the ring and pinion and installation of the new locker, which by itself came to about $900.

Well its been enarly six months now. between them pulling hte "we never received your locker back" to "it looks like its been abused" to "I'll have to check with my boss" they finally came upw ith an offer which for whatever reason they think is fair. There offer is to send me a new locker once they are re-designed and ready for shipping. Which to me puts me another $400 in the hole as I have to pay for installation of the NEW re-designed locker. That puts me $1300 in the hole,not to mention all the shipping charges and the original $650 for the locker plus the original $400 for installation... and people wonder why I hate ARB. This would be a total of $1300 for installation of thel ockers alone, and seeing as how I will have to install the ring and pinion three times as well now, thats another good amount. I'm going to keep fighting and fighting to get what they originally offered me, the refund of the $650. So as of now, they remain on the bad company list.

 

[Perry]

Locker

Hey Matt,
Since you already have a locker and you don't like them anyway, then you can let me have the one they are going to send you and I'll put it in my Exploder.
I would even pay the frieght.

 

[mattadams]

LOL gosh what an idea! Well I'm going to try to play with ARB a bit... because I wouldn't mind putting the new locker in... I just don't want to pay another $400 for installation. I WANT to have a quality locker!

 

[Rick]

I'm confused. Do you want the $650.00 and the newly re-designed locker or do you just want the $650 to pay for the locker you are driving on now?

I talked to an ARB rep at the Truckin' Nationals. He said the new locker is a complete redisgn the case is one piece, no bolts hold it together so it's inherently stronger. He claimed it will be able to handle up to 1000hp! He said in their testing they have snapped axle after axle without damaging the ARB. I know it's a hassle and you'll have to eat the installation costs, but I think I would go for the new design. Maybe it's time for you to learn how to setup rearends

 

[mattadams]

I would prefer the $650 that I was promised in the beginning. The locker in there works as well as I can expect a locker to. I would mind the locker instead, but i just don't want to have the cost of re-installation. I'm saving up for a down-payment on a house and thats just a lot of money to spend on something I don't need to spend... especially when I have so many other things I need to fix on the Explorer that will cost me much mroe then $400...

 

[leebo]

You're not nice Rick. I too have been looking into this thread. I am looking into ARB to lock my rear. I'm reading any info I can find on ARB and the quality. Please keep me informed.

 

[mattadams]

Originally posted by Rick
Maybe it's time for you to learn how to setup rearends

whoops, missed this the first time. If I had planned on having to reinstall my locker once every six months,I would've tried to learn how to do it. I figured I'd get the locker and it'd last... I don't plan on trying ot learn it... if the best professionals screw up the isntallations, my installations will be lucky if they don't catch fire. I don't have the knack for working on intricate parts of my vehicle. Basic things I can handle, master at installing lights, can even handle some basic engine things, but ask me to replace a camshaft or a lifter or something, I'm as lost as the next guy that knows nothing about em.

 

[Rick]

I don't blmae you Matt. I hate setting up rearends. Maybe it's just because I hated the teacher who taught that stuff at Denver Automotive.

If you take the new ARB can't you sell the unit you have right now? That should easily pay for the installation and you'll have a bullet proof diff. The diff you have now may be working great, but it's a design that's prone to failure.

 

[Perry]

I've got it,
Matt can keep the one in his truck, he can give me the new one they will send him (GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT)
and everyone is happy.

Rick,
Serious now, does the new one suppose to be that much better? When do they plan on having it out? I am still thinking of some type of locker or limited slip. The one thing with the ARB I have heard people have trouble sometimes with them and they are temperamental

 

[mattadams]

I can if I could find someone that wanted it. If I absolutely can't talk them into helping out with installation simply refunding the $650 as promised, I may just take the new locker and sell it, or keep it in the event that I blow the other one. Who knows. Decisions decisions, either way it'd be much easier if they could just send me my check and get me out of their hair

 

[Rick]

Perry, the new unit has a one piece design meant to keep the unit from spreading under load. The new unit also has a new engagement mechanism which does not allow the locker to engage until the spider gears are fully meshed. Right now it can engage with only the tips of the teeth engaged which can shatter the teeth. As I stated in the earlier post the new ARB supposedly can handle 1000 HP, just a little more than our 4.0L V-6s

ARB decided to strengthen the 8.8" not so much for us Explorer guys, but for the hoards of Jeep guys who have been swapping disc brake equipped 8.8s into their Jeeps. I was told that the 8.8" is only the first of the new series of ARBs eventually all of their units will be upgraded with the new engagement mechanism.

The best way to tell if they made a major improvement is to give one to Jay and let him try to break it And that's just what they plan to do.

The 8.8" ARB has been under constant development. I had the 1st generation design back in '93. It had only 4 bolts holding the case together. I broke all the bolts on mine so they sent me a new one under warranty. The new one had 6 or 8 bolts holding the case together. I haven't had a problem since. I told ARBs rep about my T/A diff cover and he said anything that helps keep the rear end from flexing will add to the life of the ARB. Flex is the killer.

 

[Perry]

I have some time before I need to decide about a locker or limited slip.
I hope to do some more trails to see just how much I can do without them before getting them.
My dad has a front end that I think has a limited slip, so I could put that in the front.
The biggest thing now is different gears. Then I will worry about the rest after that.
Thanks for the info Rick.

Matt if you do decide to sell the ARB, make sure and at least let me have a chance at it.

 

[Ray Lobato]

Hey Rick,
I would be willing to use my truck as a test device for them, I need to get the locker so I can get my gears put in here pronto. I would even pay for it. Dead Link Removed
Do you think you could talk them into send us a few early? Like I said, I would even pay for it.
Did I mention the fact that I would even pay for it? Dead Link Removed

 

[Rick]

I'll be talking to them at SEMA in about a week and a half. I'll see what I can do.

 

[Perry]

Rick,
You know I have a good back yard to try out a locker for those guys (Rocky Mountains)
Just in case they need another Explorer

 

[Scott B.]

Setting Up Gears

Matt and others,

Setting up gears is not that difficult - it is just a tedious pain in the butt. You do a few specialty tools, and tons of patience.

When we set up my rear end last weekend, we had to change/adjust the carrier shims about 8 times, and after that we had to adjust the pinion shims 3 times. Then we had to tweak things after installing the real pinion bearings (as opposed to the setup ones).

All that took 2 of us about 4 hours, with the housing sitting on the workbench.

I'll teach anyone who wants to learn - just come on down to Georgia. I'll be doing my front one in the next couple of weeks - volunteers?

 

[mattadams]

if it wasn't so far away I'd say sure sounds like fun... I'm trying to conserve my vacation so when I quit I can get an extra paycheck .

 

[Paul Gagnon]

Hold on there!

Originally posted by Rick
I'll be talking to them at SEMA in about a week and a half. I'll see what I can do.

Waaait a minute!!! I don't know if you remember but way back a few months ago I said that I wanted to test out the new 8.8" ARB locker but I sure remember it! So if anyone gets one ahead of the actual release date it should be me.

 

[mattadams]

I was told that I was put on the list for a new ARB locker today. I am #148 waiting for that 8.8" locker. No ETA on it, they say maybe by the end of the year but probably not.

 

[rpenner54]

Matt so does that mean they will send that out to you instead of $$$? If so they still are coming out on the better end of the stick. Since its their cost to send that to you instead of the retail cost you originally paid it seems like they still will win and you will just get a new locker out of the deal. Course the installation $$$ are still killer sucky poo.