What's the General Consensus on ARB Rear Locker

Great. Thanks. And for the pic of the compressor mount.

How much work is it to activate? My Titan had a cabin mounted button for the locker. I used it at least 3 times per winter to save my ass.

 

yeah the main question is could you give enough reason to buy one ya know?

throw on the compressor switch, stop or throw into neutral, lock'n go! weeee! haha

when ever i know ill be using the locker ill keep the compressor on

 

If you buy the ARB compressor associated with air lockers it comes with a wiring harness, if you buy the locker new if will come with all the plumbing required, you will have to install it on your truck somewhere, run the wiring harness to the cab (where your switch will be located) and run the plumbing to the air locker port on the diff, then it's just a matter of flipping a couple of switches to activate the locker.

 

ARB's are the best lockers you can buy!!

I had front & rear ARB's in my Jeep.

Iinstalling an ARB can be really expensive.

*Cost of ARB
*Cost of Ring & pinion
*Cost of axle seals/bearings
*Installation of ARB
*Cost of Gearing setup
*Cost of Air compressor or air source
*Cost of installation of Air source to the ARB
*Cost of anything else to make it all work....

If you don't off road, then I'm not so certain the money you spend on an ARB will be well spent (in terms of utilizing it to its fullest). If you have the money...GO 4 IT!! You won't be disappointed.

FYI: ARB's are engaged via buttons in the cab.

 

Anyone have a ballpark cost installed? This may not be something I should attempt.

Also, once you hit the switch it is instantly engaged or is their a lag?

 

OP, I suggest contacting Randy's Ring & Pinion and ask them about their Zip-locker. They may have one available for your truck. They are a lower cost alternative to the ARB air locker, and I have installed them in a few Dana 60 housings with great success.

As for ease of installation, I suggest that unless you are knowledgeable about differentials, don't try this job on your own. You can easily destroy a set of gears.

Cost wise for a rear locker in a 3rd member, I would say should be in the $300-$400 range. That should include running the air line as well to wherever you want the solenoid to be.

Once activated the air locker (Both ARB and Zip) are an instant on, and when deactivated are an instant off. They are very advantageous when driving in snow/ice conditions because they are totally open when not engaged. No limited slip or locker to spin you out. Then, when you are stuck, or need that extra pull, flip the switch are you are golden!

 

Whenever a thread like this comes along someone inevitably chirps in with "lock the front, not the back."

Your 09 has electronically activated limited slip, right? In which case it's at the actual differential an "open" spider gear setup.

I'd lock the back before I did the front.

There are three good reasons that when the factory sells you just one locked axle it's *always* in the back, and that when you get the ARB wiring harness it's wired to lock the *back axle* first before engaging the front locker:

1. Weight transfer when going uphill is to the rear axle, and
2. It can be cumbersome to control the vehicle when the front is locked (especially in snow) and
3. It's easier to break a front CV axle with drivetrain bind.

 

Man, that sounds like you could buy a lot of recoveries by a tow truck for that money!

 

I want ARB

Here's a comparison on ARBs Stress contraption
http://youtu.be/dyzyAVPTM8c

 

Ehh some people think it would be more worthwhile to have a capable truck, not necessarily for the 'stuck' factor. There are plenty of methods and techniques to getting unstuck.

 

Is this an estimated installation cost?

 

here is what i paid when i did gears and lockers @ the same time.

Parts:

(1) ARB front locker $949
(1) ARB rear locker $949
(1) Nitro 4.56 front ring and pinion $299
(1) Nitro 4.56 rear ring and pinion $225
(1) Nitro master setup kit front $349
(1) Nitro master setup kit rear $231
(1) Nitro rear solid pinion spacer $55
(1) 80w90 GL5 Gear oil $40

Total parts: $3097 + tax.

Labor:

Remove and reinstall (R&R) front diff $250
Setup front diff with ARB, 4.56, all new bearings $375
R&R rear diff $175
Setup rear diff with ARB, 4.56, all new bearings $275

Total Labor $1075

 

There are reasons and advantages to locking the front instead of the rear, just like there are advantages to locking the rear instead of the front. A lot comes down to personal choice and preference. I personally locked the front diff in my truck for two reasons.

One: When going through mud and/or snow, if the front wheels are locked, both will spin together, helping to clear out mud/snow from the front wheels. Why is this an advantage? Because those who drive in snow and mud know that if the front wheels are not spinning to clear mud/snow, then it tends to build up in front of the wheels/tires like a plow. this increases forward resistance as this builds up.

Two: When going up rocks and such, having both wheels in front pulling has it's advantages over the rear pushing. I have owned more than my fair share of locked trucks, and I have found that a locked front diff tends to do better than a locked rear in the same truck in many situations.

Think about it this way, They started building cars with front wheel drive for a reason. And it is not because it was cheaper. You have additional weight on the front because of the weight of the engine. This helps improve front traction as well. Yes, there are advantages to locking the rear, but personally I feel the front being locked is more beneficial. I have seen the proof.

If they did that on say 20 or 30 ARB v/s Zip lockers, then I would consider it a valid test. A single load test does not preclude positive proof. If that were the case then I could take a single Tacoma and if the engine blew at 10k miles, I could say ALL Tacoma trucks are junk. That is not the truth of course. I am not saying that the Zip is better than the ARB. What I AM saying is that I have installed both brands in many trucks, and have not had a single one of them state they had any problems.

Yes, that is an estimation in cost. Average total install time of about 3.5 hours, with a labor rate of about $80 per hour.

 

For off roading, they are the locker to have for sure. Can get you in a heap of trouble too if you're not careful. Been there done that!

Nothing like being on a hill climb half way up.... You're sitting there loosing traction. Reach down, hit those switches. It's instant traction even while still on the gas.

God, I miss that jeep.

ARB lockers have been around for a very long time. There's a tried and true history behind them and why they are consistently recommended.

 

Sure, and the OP can make that choice if he wants. But I hate to see someone come on, get one piece of advice, take it and not even realize he's going with the minority opinion.

 

Who's to say they didn't do the test more than once.. If one tacoma breaks I.E. Mine, I would start researching the problem to see if it happened to others.
I just did a quick Google search on the two. The OP can do the research.

Ps you seem to take things a little bit too personal. I just stated my opinion which was not based off the video/test.

 

Who says I am a minority!? I'm a white, middle aged man.....oh....wait, wrong type of minority.

True, they didn't say they only tested one. They also didn't say they tested several. Typically when a test doesn't mention multiple items, it is usually just one. I agree the OP can and should do the research. I simply wanted to let him know that there is more than just ONE air locker option out there. Yukon Gears puts out some really good products, and I know a lot of Tacoma trucks that use their products. And yeah, I am a little biased since I am a Yukon Gears distributor.

I do admit that sometimes I seem to take things personal. I really don't for the most part, unless it involves a personal attack against me, or my profession. I do tend to be a bit chaste in my responses. Perhaps it comes out as being defensive? My apologies if my comments here came across that way.

 

Getting front and rear ARB's installed next week by ECGS.

 

I agree options are good to have.

 

Be careful with it.....Being locked up both front & rear, in certain situations....will put a hurtin on you in a hurry (and with no time to react).