ARB locker or Eaton E-locker?
- Thread starter Eddie Greenlee
- Start date
After watching a video made by Dirt Lifestyle where he broke his Zip locker and talks about plastic parts inside yes I would question using one.
He never goes into that. Just says his Zip locker is broken and there are plastic shavings in the bottom of the diff.
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I've been inside quite a few lockers and there are no parts that I can envision that could reasonably be made of plastic. Perhaps the shift collar but even then the compressive strength of any of the common plastics would not be high enough to withstand the preload the bearings need to live. There aren't many if any other parts that could be made from plastic and not fail instantly unless I am just clearly missing something about lockers I don't know.
I agree with you but I have not been inside any where near as many lockers as you have. And watching the video of them taking the Zip locker apart in the ARB vs Zip video I don't see any plastic parts. So I don't know what Nate is referring to in his video.
But I'll say again I'll vote for ARB over other lockers just because I have had good experiance with them. For a selectable locker I like them.
I don't believe being prepared for failure is counting on failure given all lockers can and do fail.
That's why I also carry spare parts, tire repair and tools. Things break on the trail.
Not that this thread is about OX lockers (ie: ARB or E-Locker) but like many don't like the Poison Spyder brand or other companies with their brand on stuff, that big OX on their diff covers has always been what threw me off towards them.
This debate has been going on for a long time and most of us get involved when moving up to lockers. It's a big investment and gear set up is not something many DIY folks can do. I read the post and watched the videos and got down to ARB and Eaton. At the end of the day, I chose ARB for the rear and have been pleased with my decision. I used a professional shop with a great reputation to do the install and still had to go back in for larger relief pockets to keep from puking fluid out of the Dana 44. I installed the compressor and ran the lines and the shop installed the locker and made the connections at the diff. Choose one and get out and use it! Lockers transform your capability more than any other mod I've done.
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I can see the humor in that so I'll ask the question at the other end of the spectrum.
Do you carry no spare parts, fluids, tools, tire repair, recovery gear, etc.?
I do carry spares of sorts. But, I wheel where it is difficult, lockers are mandatory. I've wheeled with 100's of rigs 100's of times on the trails in JV and locker failure is so low on the list that we don't even consider it as being something to worry about. In all of those times out there and the failures related to lockers not working that I've dealt with, I can count them on one hand. 1 was a relay mounted with the prongs up and got water in it. I lost my compressor on ability due to my stupidity of putting the relay ground under the screw that holds the PCM to the firewall.
I would much rather you showed up with a spare rear driveshaft than anything to do with a locker failure, even with an OX.
Jake kozlowski
TJ Enthusiast
I run an E-Locker in a Dana 44 and perfectly pleased. ARB is just as good. PowerTrax No Slip in the Dana 30.
Have had ARB lockers front and rear in 4 rigs all without issue, I like the design and would go that route with confidence.
But the new Eaton e lockers are right there. Having had 50k on a factory e locker I. The runner, they work.
I still have my entire “repair” kit in my tool box for my ARB...never used it. At this point, I should sell it to someone for a trail repair kit.
OX was new when I went ARB.
But the new Eaton e lockers are right there. Having had 50k on a factory e locker I. The runner, they work.
I still have my entire “repair” kit in my tool box for my ARB...never used it. At this point, I should sell it to someone for a trail repair kit.
OX was new when I went ARB.
Aussie Phil
New Member
My previous car before my Jeep was a hilux with 2 ARB air lockers. I noticed a bit of play in the rear so I took it to my local diff guy for a look see. He advised that we could buy all the parts in the ARB so we should be able to fix it. On pulling it out every part was worn out and nothing could be salvaged. Yet the piñon and crown was fine. Original genuine Toyota. His advice was forget the ARB , and stick with Eaton. He works on plenty of diffs so I took his advice. Not regretted it yet.