ARB Air Locker

Jimbo88 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-10-2003, 02:45 PM

I just started to research ARB Air Lockers, visited the ARB USA Website

They seem to have locker for both front and rear.. but I have misgivings about installing the compressor, tank, both diffs, wirign, hoses and who knows what else....

The ability to lock the wheels together with a switch is DEFINITELY the best way to go (for me), becuase I need maximum traction about ten or twelve times a year, at most, but when I need it , I REALLY need it, and I want them LOCKED - PERIOD!!

Having an LSD of any type seems to be of little or no value to me, becuase the vast majority of the time, my tundra goes just fine the way it came from the factory, and I do not want to deal with gear oils & additives, special maintenance, ratcheting around corners, lock-up when I don't want it, replacing clutches, etc, etc, ad nauseum.

What I really need (desperately) is any info anyone has about this mod.. has anyone done it? how tough is this intallation? how long would it take one guy with tons of tools but no assitance? Where do I locate the pump & run the pulley from the factory belt? Will tis affect other belt driven item (PS pump, AC) where do I put the air tank? (there has to be a pressure vessel/tank, right?) There are a lot of questions....

I really just wish I could find an electrically actuated locker so I didn't have to deal with all these issues..is there anything on the market for Tundra?

I humbly petition the wise for any knowledge they may have..

Jimbo88 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-10-2003, 02:47 PM

*wiring (oops)

PS - Anyone know what a dealer or shop would reasonably charge to do the whole install?

ricqik · #3 (**permalink**) 03-10-2003, 03:23 PM

There have been a couple people here who has installed the ARB locker. It won't be long before they post here.
In the meantime I saw that Eaton has made an electric locker. Eaton has not said if they'd made any for foreign vehivles yet. Keep an eye on this too. Would be way better than the ARB.

Jimbo88 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-10-2003, 04:04 PM

thanks ricqik. you say it would be better.. i assume that's becuase of the extensive installation required by the ARB?

Jimbo88 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-10-2003, 04:10 PM

Still searching the web.. I found this tidbit...
http://ca.autos.yahoo.com/021106/11/q3kw.html

Jimbo88 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-10-2003, 04:17 PM

Ah-Ha! More on the Eaton ELocker:

http://www.traction.eaton.com/prod1.htm

And some good reading material:

http://howstuffworks.lycoszone.com/differential8.htm

TMS2U · #7 (**permalink**) 03-10-2003, 04:33 PM

Eaton makes the TRD locker which runs on an electrical as opposed to compressed air switching.

Personally I would go with the ARB over the Eaton.

Check out member Joe. He has both front and rear air locker and 4.56 gears

Jimbo88 · #8 (**permalink**) 03-10-2003, 04:57 PM

Just got an email reply from Eaton Traction. No firm plans for the Tundra...but it is "Under Consideration"
Called a few retailers and they dropped some names of companies that are talking about making electric lockers now that Eaton got the ball rolling: "Electrac" and "Auburn" Don't quote me on the spelling...

Superman · #9 (**permalink**) 03-10-2003, 07:53 PM

I looked in to this a while back and someone correct me if I am wrong but from my understanding the air compressor is 12v and doent run off the engine belt and you dont need an air tank ( unless you just want a volume of air to do somthing else with)thats the reason that the air compressor cost so much good quailty. Unless you have some air leaks in your line I wouldnt think you need a volume tank.

v8Toilet · #10 (**permalink**) 03-10-2003, 08:02 PM

I considered this too but the installation is rather complicated. You have to remove the ring gear and reset the gears I believe. I did that once and don't want to do it again.

Joe · #11 (**permalink**) 03-11-2003, 12:37 AM

The ARB air lockers can be run off a York Compressor (or others), a CO2 tank or just the ARB Compressor. You can make it as complicated or as simple as you like. I'm running the ARB Compressor as it is a very simple install and was manufacture by ARB specifically to run their air lockers - there's a picture of the mounted compressor in my photo section. As for the install, you don't need to reset the gears. It’s a very simple install if you’ve worked on differentials previously. You should replace the bearings and seals, which in my opinion is cheap insurance, as they normally get nicked in the install process, which means you’ll be tearing down the differential a little later on to replace them. What the install basically entails is pulling the axles, open the housing, remove the pumpkin, exchange the stock ring carrier for the ARB carrier, drill and tap a hole in the housing for the air line fitting, put the pumpkin back together, and re-assemble everything. Then install the compressor, run the airlines, wire-up the compressor to the switches (there will be three switches, 1 for the compressor and 1 each for the front and rear locker as you can run them independently of each other) and you're good to go. If you have the tools, space and fair mechanical abilities, you can install the lockers and compressor over a weekend. There's nothing complicated about the install if you've ever worked on "rear-ends" before. For those of us not possessing the necessary tools/equipment for pulling and pressing bearings and not adept at calculating and installing backlash shims (if needed) or are just plain scared of tackling this type of project then we have to pay someone who is

Remember, once you or someone else has successfully installed an ARB locker and compressor, you can call yourself an expert at it - that's what the 4X4 shops do.