Rear Locker Question

Not sure if this has been covered already but which is better... E locker or Air locker? Post reasons pro and con. I have an 06 sport doublecab.

 

Well since you have a sport the air locker would be your best bet since you have a sport

 

Air locker would be stronger since you could use the 8.4" rear end, vs the 8" e-locker rear end... but even then, the e-lockers are still pretty stout. I've got an air locker up front and the stock e-locker in the rear. Neither have failed me, and I wheel pretty hard.

 

Air locker.

Because the only way that youll get an e locker is to switch axles with a trd offroad.

 

Where are you putting it? Front or rear?

You've already got the mechanical LSD in the rear..... so perhaps consider a selectable locker in the front to start with.

I've had two ARB's in our jeep for years. They work flawlessly, are reliable, and kick ass when they are installed properly. When you need it, its there....including in the middle of climbing an extreme hillclimb while still on the throttle - hit the button, and it engages.

Aside from that - since air is involved, you can setup an onboard air system to air up your tires, or even run air tools if needed.

 

I was told never to engage the locker (crash lock) while moving
I have a Sport and have the ARB locker in the rear. It has allowed me to go places my LSD hasn't. No complaints so far

 

I had my ARB installed professionally by a 4WD offroad shop and the installer whom uses the ARB's regularly and never said anything about that.

Besides....seems kinda useless (and maybe even unsafe) to not be able to engage 'on the fly'. With the experiences I've had - stopping on a hillclimb could be unsafe and keeping throttle on to prevent from sliding down backwards....

If the installer would've told me that - I would've never bought the ARB's.

 

The issues with engaging a locker "on the fly" are based on possible conditions while driving. If you are in a turn, you don't want to engage the locker DURING the turn, as this can cause a wheel to spin on the surface, possibly loosing control (Again this is based on driving and road conditions) If the wheel speed difference is high, say you have one wheel not turning in the mud at all, and the wheel in the air is spinning, then it is recommended that you stop the wheels, engage the locker, then reengage. The reason for THIS is that if you have a spinning wheel on one end, and a stopped wheel on the other end, and engage the locker, you run the risk of snapping an axle shaft due to the sudden locking of the differential while the spider gears are spinning.

 

As said, unless you get good deals and do all the work yourself swappig in a trd axle an possibly doing a regear will be almost the same price as an arb (probably at least 900) where as the arb is about 1200 with air system. Arb is better as Silas said because it used a bigger stronger rear end. He wheels hard, and I beat on my freshly installed e locker the last week and had zero issues or complaints.

Never had an arb so I wouldn't know about engaging them on the fly, but I know the way the e locker works you really don't want to do that. Just to be safe I as well as many others stop hit the button an go again. Click, locked.

 

I'm not looking at any heavy wheeling or rock crawling type stuff, just want to be able to get up some steeper stuff, or maybe over a short rough patch if I need to. I'm two wheel not four so a front locker isnt going to happen.

 

Well, there's your problem.

 

Air locker is for you.

 

Which brand air locker is best ... not necessarily most expensive, but best --- as in will hold up in the long haul, and be least troublesome? ARB seems to be most popular from what I have seen, but is there an alternative?

 

ARB all the way. It's popular because people have experience with it.
I had a built Jeep with Dana 44's and ARB's front and rear. I had this setup for like 8 years. Many many offroad miles, two trips to Tellico, and rolled it twice. And I already mentioned being able to engage it on the fly...and it was always there when I needed it.

Again... If its installed properly including the air setup, you can't go wrong.

It's got the reputation for a reason. It works and well worth the money.

 

What changes would have to be made to my rear if I go with an ARB air locker? OR is it just a pull out the stock diff and replace with the ARB (adding air lines,etc)? As I am not an expert mechanic I would likely have to have a shop do the swap.

 

Www.eastcoastgearsupply.com

 

Here's a video that'll show you an install. They make it look like its easy.... but if its not done right, it won't work right and/or fail (especially/gear setup).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33pPBj5sr0M

Find an offroad shop mechanic and make sure he's installed ARB's before.

 

They do make it look easy .... but I have brains enough to know I'd rather pay someone to do it right the first time!