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Brand new ARB locker leaking air

Discussion in 'Technical Chat' started by austin2009, Aug 25, 2018.

  1. Aug 25, 2018 at 3:58 PM
    #1
    austin2009

    austin2009 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Lifted and Locked 09 2.7L 2TR 4x4 5 Speed
    DRIVETRAIN- -4.56 Nitro gears -ARB rear locker -SPC UCA's -Fox 2.5" RR fronts/650lb coils -Bilstein 5100's rear -1.5" AAL -285 BFG KO2’s -16x8 MK6’s ARMOR- -ABR bumper -BAMF LCA skids -Cali Raised sliders RECOVERY- -Smittybilt XRC 9.5k synthetic winch -ARB OBA -Factor 55 Pro Link, Expert STEREO- -Pioneer head unit -Rockford T series speakers -Rockford 500 watt amp -Rockford P2D4 8" sub LIGHTING- -Calirasied ditch lights -Caliraised amber fogs -Hella Black Magic’s -Blue Seas fuse panel
    Well.....I’m not sure where to point blame, but I’m not too happy about this. I ordered a rear diff and ARB locker complete through ECGS in January and now I was going to use it for the second time. The compressor was running continuously and the locker wasn’t engaging, so I chased the air leak and found the issue. There’s air being vented constantly out the diff breather plug. So, what the hell?
     
    I married my tacoma likes this.
  2. Aug 26, 2018 at 12:59 AM
    #2
    Wyoming09

    Wyoming09 Well-Known Member

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    Bottom line you have a leak inside the housing .

    Did you do the install ?? Pay to have it done??

    Test for leaks when installed ??

    When did it get installed since you got it in January ??

    Truck off the road for major upgrades

    I can only guess .
     
  3. Aug 30, 2018 at 4:28 PM
    #3
    austin2009

    austin2009 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Lifted and Locked 09 2.7L 2TR 4x4 5 Speed
    DRIVETRAIN- -4.56 Nitro gears -ARB rear locker -SPC UCA's -Fox 2.5" RR fronts/650lb coils -Bilstein 5100's rear -1.5" AAL -285 BFG KO2’s -16x8 MK6’s ARMOR- -ABR bumper -BAMF LCA skids -Cali Raised sliders RECOVERY- -Smittybilt XRC 9.5k synthetic winch -ARB OBA -Factor 55 Pro Link, Expert STEREO- -Pioneer head unit -Rockford T series speakers -Rockford 500 watt amp -Rockford P2D4 8" sub LIGHTING- -Calirasied ditch lights -Caliraised amber fogs -Hella Black Magic’s -Blue Seas fuse panel
    I guess I should update this! So I did in fact contact ECGS and talked with Chase. Super cool guy. He said, just as you did, that the most likely cause is the seal inside the locker failed. He also said the same thing, they’ve been having issues with the newer ARB lockers for some reason. Without hesitation, Chase put in an order for a new 3rd to be built with a new locker and shipped to me to exchange with the one in the truck. They covered all the shipping for both as well as included new gear oil. Great company and great customer service.
     
    PzTank, Motofox, Kolter45 and 24 others like this.
  4. Aug 30, 2018 at 4:33 PM
    #4
    austin2009

    austin2009 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Vehicle:
    Lifted and Locked 09 2.7L 2TR 4x4 5 Speed
    DRIVETRAIN- -4.56 Nitro gears -ARB rear locker -SPC UCA's -Fox 2.5" RR fronts/650lb coils -Bilstein 5100's rear -1.5" AAL -285 BFG KO2’s -16x8 MK6’s ARMOR- -ABR bumper -BAMF LCA skids -Cali Raised sliders RECOVERY- -Smittybilt XRC 9.5k synthetic winch -ARB OBA -Factor 55 Pro Link, Expert STEREO- -Pioneer head unit -Rockford T series speakers -Rockford 500 watt amp -Rockford P2D4 8" sub LIGHTING- -Calirasied ditch lights -Caliraised amber fogs -Hella Black Magic’s -Blue Seas fuse panel
    So, along with that I must include that I had to front $1,200 until I ship my old one back. And then they refund the full amount. Makes it tough to do if money is an issue to front like that, but it’s better then not having a truck for a few weeks. I just used the trusty credit card for it.
     
    mcharfauros, TXpro4X4 and Biscuits like this.
  5. Sep 1, 2018 at 2:05 AM
    #5
    Wyoming09

    Wyoming09 Well-Known Member

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    That is some great Customer Service .

    Hope things get worked out

    I wonder did they go to a Chinese source for seals .
     
  6. Sep 29, 2018 at 1:04 PM
    #6
    jp_flynavy

    jp_flynavy IG: @TrailLimoOverland

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    My newly installed rear is bleeding air out too. I’ve had the diff installed for a few weeks now, but yesterday I finally hooked up air to the locker. I emailed ECGS for an answer to this.
     
  7. Sep 30, 2018 at 3:12 PM
    #7
    jp_flynavy

    jp_flynavy IG: @TrailLimoOverland

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    I was careful when installing the 3rd member. It all came preassembled from ECGS.
     
    dtaco06[QUOTED] likes this.
  8. Oct 2, 2018 at 10:35 PM
    #8
    austin2009

    austin2009 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Lifted and Locked 09 2.7L 2TR 4x4 5 Speed
    DRIVETRAIN- -4.56 Nitro gears -ARB rear locker -SPC UCA's -Fox 2.5" RR fronts/650lb coils -Bilstein 5100's rear -1.5" AAL -285 BFG KO2’s -16x8 MK6’s ARMOR- -ABR bumper -BAMF LCA skids -Cali Raised sliders RECOVERY- -Smittybilt XRC 9.5k synthetic winch -ARB OBA -Factor 55 Pro Link, Expert STEREO- -Pioneer head unit -Rockford T series speakers -Rockford 500 watt amp -Rockford P2D4 8" sub LIGHTING- -Calirasied ditch lights -Caliraised amber fogs -Hella Black Magic’s -Blue Seas fuse panel
    I’d assume they will do the same deal for you as they did for me. After I removed the 3rd member I inspected the line and fittings, both of which were completely intact. This would indicate their suspicion was correct on the internal seal failing.
     
    I married my tacoma and TXpro4X4 like this.
  9. Oct 3, 2018 at 4:26 PM
    #9
    jp_flynavy

    jp_flynavy IG: @TrailLimoOverland

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    Actually, they are not doing the same. I’ll have to mail mine back and be without a vehicle for that time
     
  10. Oct 3, 2018 at 4:40 PM
    #10
    jowybyo

    jowybyo Well-Known Member

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    I chose to get a TJM air locker instead of the ARB. After looking at the design of both and reading about past issues with that seal in the ARB, I decided to stay away despite the fact that everyone recommends it.
     
  11. Oct 3, 2018 at 5:10 PM
    #11
    austin2009

    austin2009 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Vehicle:
    Lifted and Locked 09 2.7L 2TR 4x4 5 Speed
    DRIVETRAIN- -4.56 Nitro gears -ARB rear locker -SPC UCA's -Fox 2.5" RR fronts/650lb coils -Bilstein 5100's rear -1.5" AAL -285 BFG KO2’s -16x8 MK6’s ARMOR- -ABR bumper -BAMF LCA skids -Cali Raised sliders RECOVERY- -Smittybilt XRC 9.5k synthetic winch -ARB OBA -Factor 55 Pro Link, Expert STEREO- -Pioneer head unit -Rockford T series speakers -Rockford 500 watt amp -Rockford P2D4 8" sub LIGHTING- -Calirasied ditch lights -Caliraised amber fogs -Hella Black Magic’s -Blue Seas fuse panel
    Hmm....did you ask to front the money? Strange that they’ve done it for several others but wouldn’t do it for you.
     
  12. Oct 3, 2018 at 5:11 PM
    #12
    austin2009

    austin2009 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Lifted and Locked 09 2.7L 2TR 4x4 5 Speed
    DRIVETRAIN- -4.56 Nitro gears -ARB rear locker -SPC UCA's -Fox 2.5" RR fronts/650lb coils -Bilstein 5100's rear -1.5" AAL -285 BFG KO2’s -16x8 MK6’s ARMOR- -ABR bumper -BAMF LCA skids -Cali Raised sliders RECOVERY- -Smittybilt XRC 9.5k synthetic winch -ARB OBA -Factor 55 Pro Link, Expert STEREO- -Pioneer head unit -Rockford T series speakers -Rockford 500 watt amp -Rockford P2D4 8" sub LIGHTING- -Calirasied ditch lights -Caliraised amber fogs -Hella Black Magic’s -Blue Seas fuse panel
    It sounds like it was a bad batch of seals. When I shipped mine back they waited for a new batch to be produced and shipped to them from Australia. Seems to be all good now.
     
    dtaco06 likes this.
  13. Oct 3, 2018 at 5:29 PM
    #13
    jowybyo

    jowybyo Well-Known Member

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    Maybe so. I read about them having issue some years back with the seals leaking. Also, a lot of scattered reports of people having diff fluid push back up the air line.
     
    I married my tacoma likes this.
  14. Oct 3, 2018 at 7:35 PM
    #14
    austin2009

    austin2009 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Lifted and Locked 09 2.7L 2TR 4x4 5 Speed
    DRIVETRAIN- -4.56 Nitro gears -ARB rear locker -SPC UCA's -Fox 2.5" RR fronts/650lb coils -Bilstein 5100's rear -1.5" AAL -285 BFG KO2’s -16x8 MK6’s ARMOR- -ABR bumper -BAMF LCA skids -Cali Raised sliders RECOVERY- -Smittybilt XRC 9.5k synthetic winch -ARB OBA -Factor 55 Pro Link, Expert STEREO- -Pioneer head unit -Rockford T series speakers -Rockford 500 watt amp -Rockford P2D4 8" sub LIGHTING- -Calirasied ditch lights -Caliraised amber fogs -Hella Black Magic’s -Blue Seas fuse panel
    I’ve heard that as well. Hopefully I don’t experience it. For such a pricey unit you’d think they’d have worked these kinks out by now.
     
    I married my tacoma likes this.
  15. Oct 23, 2018 at 3:27 AM
    #15
    Spvrtan

    Spvrtan "Your assembly required."

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    Piggybacking off this.. my compressor just cycles non-stop now and I'm seeing a ton of oil come out of the compressor end of the air line. Does that mean I have a bad seal in the diff or just the seal on the solenoid in the compressor?

    20181022_183635.jpg
     
  16. Oct 23, 2018 at 4:26 AM
    #16
    jowybyo

    jowybyo Well-Known Member

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    From what I’ve read, it would appear that way.
     
  17. Oct 30, 2018 at 9:16 AM
    #17
    taco_tallua

    taco_tallua MEGA-Known Member

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    I'm here for the memes
    So the big questions is, is this all solved with the copper line and the seals?
     
  18. Oct 30, 2018 at 5:57 PM
    #18
    austin2009

    austin2009 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Lifted and Locked 09 2.7L 2TR 4x4 5 Speed
    DRIVETRAIN- -4.56 Nitro gears -ARB rear locker -SPC UCA's -Fox 2.5" RR fronts/650lb coils -Bilstein 5100's rear -1.5" AAL -285 BFG KO2’s -16x8 MK6’s ARMOR- -ABR bumper -BAMF LCA skids -Cali Raised sliders RECOVERY- -Smittybilt XRC 9.5k synthetic winch -ARB OBA -Factor 55 Pro Link, Expert STEREO- -Pioneer head unit -Rockford T series speakers -Rockford 500 watt amp -Rockford P2D4 8" sub LIGHTING- -Calirasied ditch lights -Caliraised amber fogs -Hella Black Magic’s -Blue Seas fuse panel
    So, the copper line showed no signs of damage or any marks for that matter. I believe it was the internal seal that failed. The replacement is in and working great. Got the chance to test it this past weekend when we rescued 2 jeeps stuck in the lake bed. :rofl:
     
    Kolter45 and I married my tacoma like this.
  19. Nov 1, 2018 at 10:49 PM
    #19
    taco_tallua

    taco_tallua MEGA-Known Member

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    I'm here for the memes
    Only reason I am asking is because I am pretty big on doing installations myself and not having shops do it for me. I would go with ECGS but hearing about these seals wearing out worries me a bit.
     
  20. Nov 3, 2018 at 7:17 AM
    #20
    jp_flynavy

    jp_flynavy IG: @TrailLimoOverland

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    ECGS warned me before I purchased the locker that ARB was having some issues with lockers leaking air. It's not a premature wear, just a bad batch of seals. I am sending mine in soon to get fixed.
     

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