[rob_macca67]

Mainly to those who have bought/use Air Lockers (ARB & Chinese ones)....

Questions:

> I've been reading various posts regarding the Air Lockers and it seems that the weak point in the locker is the O'Ring. Is this the case and has the design changed at all
> I've read that people have had oil sucked back up through the air lines, etc... Does this happen?
> What sort of Air pressure is applied to the Diff?
> For people who have Air Lockers, how many times have u had to replace the the seals?
> How long are these seals suppose to last and do they wear out under normal driving conditions (ie: even when the Difflock is not being used)?
> I read a few posts from various places on the web, and these "assumed" mechanics believe that the ARB Air-Locker is a poor design and that it needs to be re-designed - would this be true? (I've also spoken to a Diff specialist who has said something similar, especially with the $$ u pay)

After my rear axle breakage experience, I'm contemplating changing to an AirLocker (possibly a Chinese one). I've seen the ARB vs the Chinese copy vid and reckon that it's safe to say that I wouldn't need to worry about reaching those levels of stresses in the Zook, but I am concerned about reliability in both the ARB one and with the copy..... I don't want to be constantly having to pull the diff centre out to replace the seals.
I'm even just thinking about just putting the Autolocker back in and then once every year or 2yrs, just pull the axles out to check their condition, as this is a very easy job to do and just put up with the inherrent Autolocker traits....


comments....


RobM

[just_cruizin]

I thought the revised design did away with the old seal arrangement. The one design in the rear of my cruiser has done over 100,000km and is still ok as of Saturday.

Believe they operate between 90-100psi

[Scales]

yeah the pressure switch on the arb compressors is set around 100psi, so thats what it would be throwing down there.
and +1 to just_cruizin, I thought the new rd208 (or whatever the new number is) fixed the o-ring seal, or at least re-designed it anyway.

[alien]

my compressor cuts out at 80psi... i know cos i pump my bike tyres to 85, and it cuts out early.

so the "old syle" locker only requires 80psi to activate.

[Zook_Fan]

What's the difference of pulling an auto locker out every couple of years or pulling an airlocker out to put a new seal in once in a blue moon?

The seals should be fine if they are originally installed properly.

Yes you can get a small amount of oil come back up the tube when you disengage the locker. No the new design has not "fixed" this, but it is pretty simple to route the exhaust of the compressor to a catch can or out the bottom of the car. This does not happen all the time and neither of my lockers have experienced this but I know in a mates locker (with dead seals) it would exhaust oil every time he turned the locker off. After the locker was rebuilt it stopped doing this.

I've never had to touch the seals in mine but in fairness mine have not seen very many kilometres. The aforementioned example had 350 thousand k's on them before the seals were shot and then replaced with no other maintenance besides oil.

The seal should not wear out when there is no pressure to the unit and it is unlocked.

As for poor design, I think if it really was a poor design there would be more competition to it. The pro locker from TJM proved that the market preferred to by an ARB over a new type of airlocker. Also note as all the other replies indicate there has been a redesign of the suzuki lockers.

[just_cruizin]

I always find it intesting the diff specialists think its a poor design, yet it the most commonly used design. Yes you can get the maxi lockers used in rovers etc but they aren't very common. If other designs were superior why haven't they adopted, copied etc. yet guys working in small dirty greasy little workshops bag what teams of mechanical designers spend many weeks designing.

[tanshi]

Had mine for years and never had any issues.

My old mans did play up a few weeks back but it came good on its own.

[rob_macca67]

just_cruizin wrote:

I always find it intesting the diff specialists think its a poor design, yet it the most commonly used design. Yes you can get the maxi lockers used in rovers etc but they aren't very common. If other designs were superior why haven't they adopted, copied etc. yet guys working in small dirty greasy little workshops bag what teams of mechanical designers spend many weeks designing.

Greg, Yeah your probably right, but aren't most "Factory" Lockers operated electrically ??? I've never really seen or heard of a air operated factory locker not to say there aren't any factory ones out there. I would have thought that all the Car Manufacturers that have factory lockers for their vehicles would install Air Lockers if they turned out to be the most reliable.... but that's just my thoughts


What's the maxi lockers ? How do they operate ?

rob

[tanshi]

i think maxidrive are cable opperated

[Zook_Fan]

rob_macca67 wrote:

just_cruizin wrote:

I always find it intesting the diff specialists think its a poor design, yet it the most commonly used design. Yes you can get the maxi lockers used in rovers etc but they aren't very common. If other designs were superior why haven't they adopted, copied etc. yet guys working in small dirty greasy little workshops bag what teams of mechanical designers spend many weeks designing.

Greg, Yeah your probably right, but aren't most "Factory" Lockers operated electrically ??? I've never really seen or heard of a air operated factory locker not to say there aren't any factory ones out there. I would have thought that all the Car Manufacturers that have factory lockers for their vehicles would install Air Lockers if they turned out to be the most reliable.... but that's just my thoughts


What's the maxi lockers ? How do they operate ?

rob

Most factory systems are either cable or electrical yes but is this done because they are more reliable or because they are cheaper to produce? I know after market locker systems are all around the same price but factory electric lockers seem to sell second hand for around $250-$400 whereas a second hand air locker is around $750 through to $1200 depending on condition of the centres. That's not comparing apples with apples as the factory units I'm basing this off are all around 20 years old compared to 1-5 year old arb's but it still shows what is more sort after.

[rob_macca67]

tanshi wrote:

i think maxidrive are cable opperated

Cable...... potential for letting moisture into the diff ??

[just_cruizin]

Most manufactures don't want to have to add compressors either.

[31zook]

I had issues with my rear locker leaking, but adjusting the bearing preload lockout switch it hasn't leaked since. This was the fault of a diff specialist shop. And my front has never let me down, Works ever go, doesn't leak, doesn't take on oil...

I think that they are well worth the price you pay for them, and if done correctly should never come out for repair.

[SierraDan]

rob_macca67 wrote:

tanshi wrote:

i think maxidrive are cable opperated

Cable...... potential for letting moisture into the diff ??

[3cyl]

tanshi wrote:

i think maxidrive are cable opperated

Vacuum operated, they have an ally cylinder mounted on an axle tube that brings a dog clutch that's splined to 1 axle into mesh with a set of teeth outside the carrier bearing journal. A vacuum switch operates it. Also has a switch in the actuator that operates a light on the dash so you know it's locked, not just turned on. Strong and trouble free. I have put 1 in the Landy and also put one in the old Rangie I used to have. They cost a bit but come with hituff axles, Defender rear only these days though.

[joel]

just_cruizin wrote:

I always find it intesting the diff specialists think its a poor design, yet it the most commonly used design. Yes you can get the maxi lockers used in rovers etc but they aren't very common. If other designs were superior why haven't they adopted, copied etc. yet guys working in small dirty greasy little workshops bag what teams of mechanical designers spend many weeks designing.

your logical thinking and sensibility have no place here, gtfo
haters only.

[rob_macca67]

Well, I've taken the punt and put my order in for one..... Time will tell if I've made the right decision or just flushed my $$ down the S bend....

[mrw82]

Did you go for arb or chinese?

[Bruce]

I'm betting chinese.

[DarkHorse]

My front ARB leaks a bit of air.but not enough to stop it operating. The compressor just needs to keep pumping every few seconds. A little irritating but not a big issue. The locker had done very little work when this started happening.

From what I've heard/read (which is all hearsay) the O-ring problems are/were the result of poor installation rather than design. The new versions apparently redesigned the O-ring, using an X-ring type seal (check out the more expensive motorbike chain specs for an idea) which hasn't completely solved the issue.

I haven't had an issue with oil backflow.

[SierraDan]

When they do leak up the line they can hydrolock the compressor.

[rob_macca67]

Bruce wrote:

I'm betting chinese.

Yep... spot on

Now it's just a wait and see....

[Zook_Fan]

SierraDan wrote:

When they do leak up the line they can hydrolock the compressor.

How? The oil is vented through the exhaust in the solenoid which is the only time the pressure will allow the oil to climb. When the compressor is flicked back on and oil residue still in the line should be forced back down to the centre.

[SierraDan]

Didn't ask how. It happened to my mates one though. ARB's solution was a purge kit as a bandaid fix.

[TheOtherLeft]

I have an ARB airlocker for several years. I did get the oil up the airline problem but my problem was a blocked diff breather. Now that it's been cleared I don't have the problem anymore.

[joel]

my prediction is emg will release some wallaby tigerz airlockers, just judging by the amount of "problems" they keep having on their dvds with airlockers not working.....
time will tell.

[atari4x4]

joel wrote:

my prediction is emg will release some wallaby tigerz airlockers, just judging by the amount of "problems" they keep having on their dvds with airlockers not working.....
time will tell.

good call, i reckon you're onto it. will just be a emg branded chinalocker

[joeblow]

The you beaut Roothy "Skidmark" locker.......

[atari4x4]

joeblow wrote:

The you beaut Roothy "Skidmark" locker.......

named skidmark, cause it's going to shit it's self before you get to use it?

[joeblow]

atari4x4 wrote:

joeblow wrote:

The you beaut Roothy "Skidmark" locker.......

named skidmark, cause it's going to shit it's self before you get to use it?

Shit, I didn't even think of it like that. Sounds like good marketing to me Atari.