ARB Air Locker Solenoid Leaking Gear Oil

Confirmed its my rear locker solenoid.
Diff Breather looks fine.
Did you ever install that turn valve?

 

I've got it sitting in my garage. I haven't gotten around to purchasing another quick-release fitting for the hose that will thread into the top of the ball valve. I'll track one down

 

Here is my bulkhead/banjo bolt. Would I need a female/male valve?

 

Male to female and then put the banjo bolt (male) in the top of it.

 

OK, great that makes sense. So i dont really need a push to connect right?

Will try to get it done this weekend. So my locker still works, but the manifold doesnt hold charge very long so you hear the compressor actuate in spurts (like little farts lol)
Will my locker eventually fail? I'm dreading forking over more money in labor and parts to fix the leak (im assuming its a bad o ring or seal housing)

 

Yes it’ll eventually fail. You have a seal problem. Most likely the main seal which is why oil is sneaking up the line.

 

Not thread jacking but here's another issue I had today...on top of the leaking diff fluid issue you have.
Good times.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/abr-twin-on-board-air-explosion.746605/#post-26584142

 

I wasn’t, unfortunately. Although I would have likely assumed it had been addressed and made the purchase anyway.

 

I have front and rear ARB lockers. The front hasn't been an issue, but the rear, after around a year, started pushing oil out of the locker solenoid. It wrecked the solenoid. ARB sent me a new one, and it wrecked that one too.

When I installed the seals I did a few different things. I cleaned the solenoid out and got it working again. I also disconnect the air line from the front and rear, then hooked my compressor to it for around 20 minutes, and it blew a lot of oil out of the line that had built up over the year. I also installed a water/oil separator on the line just before the solenoid.

I haven't had a problem since, but I'm guessing it takes my truck around a year or so to push enough oil up the line for it to get to the solenoid. However, maybe the new seals fixed it. Not sure.

Either way, if the oil does ever make it back up to my solenoid, it will get caught in the catch can where I can easily see it and drain it out.

 

I had this oil/ solenoid issue early on after I installed a complete ARB equipped 3rd from Marlin Crawler in 2009.
To remedy the issue, I did the extended Diff breather mod on the OEM axle housing but did not use the OEM breather. Issue resolved.
When I did my SAC with a Diamond axle and ARB locker, I did the same style of breather extension as the rear, and have never had an issue.

I suggest ditching the OEM breather.

Good luck.

 

I've got the same problem with my LC, that has front and rear ARB lockers. I've taken it to my California 4x4 shop, but they have been of no help. "It's normal." Oil leaks aren't normal. Will try another ship in Albuquerque on Friday.

 

One of the issues may be the twin arb compressor is 150psi. I'm fairly certain the o ring seals in the arb locker bulkhead cannot hold this pressure, I'm not even certain they can hold 100psi. If the o rings fail, gear oil is sent up towards the solenoid.

It would be wise to put in a pressure switch, perhaps even a 60-75psi to see if the locker engages at lower pressure so as not the blow by the o rings. The pressure switch would go on the manifold (or tank).

 

I have a single and it came with a pressure switch I think they just made a shit product.

 

My ARB air locker is also pushing gear oil out of the solenoid. I've had it pulled, and inspected by the installer, and He's been in contact with ARB as well. The axle vent, accidental overfilling of gear oil into the rear axle, and wrong type of gear oil used were all suspected culprits. Very frustrating. I've since used a ball valve in-line to prevent the oil from creating a mess.

 

At least they didn't give you the adjuster nut toe bs. Also how do you overfill the rear diff? The design makes it so you can't overfill it... The techs just talk out of their ass until you go away. Keep pushing them; you'll get results.

 

Was that a dodge reference? Haha

 

I heard so many horror stories of issues like this from many many ARB air locker customers which lead me to go with Harrop E Lockers instead. Very best decision I ever made.

 

Any updates OP?

 

Truck is currently on jack stands with the diff in a bucket, if that tells you anything

 

I wish I could help, but I just haven't had these problems with new or old ARB's. I feel like you have to be leaking for this to happen. Do you get sealed activation or is the compressor constantly turning on when you have the diff locked?