4Runner_101
Banned
Looking to purchase an ARB air locker for the front, was wondering if they work well? do they brake often after rigorous use?
ARB air locker, are they any good??
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4Runner_101
Banned
What breaks often? im guessing drive shafts? Any run an ARB for awhile? Do things like driveshafts brake a lot more often with the locker compared to without it?
the great him
Elite Member
what typically breaks is the gears, ie the ring gear or the pinion gear. the ARB itself will not typically break and breaking one is very rare. that being said i have broken an ARB locker before with out breaking anything else. it should also be noted that the locker was over 10 years old and that ARB repaired it free of charge. not saying they will repair any breaks or failures but they did for me, and they stand behind their stuff. IMO they are the best money can buy and much stronger than the stock diff
Dous
New member
Exceptional units. Up front you will be unlikely to have any issues within the diff itself. The CV axles would be your weak point. The clam shell style diffs are very robust because they virtually eliminate deflection between the ring and pinon gear which is the typical cause of failure.
Plus ARB just changed their warranty to 5 years, which is pretty solid, not that you should need it.
Plus ARB just changed their warranty to 5 years, which is pretty solid, not that you should need it.
IBallEngineer
New member
I too broke an ARB after 10 yrs and probably 75K miles. This was on my 7000 lb pig of a landcruiser and I have to say it was a freak thing. A spider gear chipped a tooth, which then lodged in such a way that it became locked. I was 300 miles from home at the time, and I was wheeling it. But I drove back to camp and towed my 23ft travel trailer home. Then drove to work the following week until I could tear it down on Friday.
ARB carriers are just awesome.
the great him
Elite Member
they also typically try harder lines and generally wheel harder than those who are open
the great him
Elite Member
yeup i drove for at least 6months on my busted ARB(broke into the locked position) and i finally changed it out for my stock open diff. -my break was from abuse too. but it took it like a champ.
Gerdo
New member
I'm sure there is some of that.
A locker or even a limited slip will put additional stress and binding on the front axle parts.
I also know that I have seen (someone that I used to wheel with) add a LSD, before he never broke an axle, after he broke a couple and he wasn't wheeling anything that hard.
4Runner_101
Banned
thanks for all the input, i guess the only thing i need to worry about i the drive shafts, and since NAPA offers life time warranty on them, its not a big deal. was also looking to purchase a used one, but i think ill grab a new one since they tend to brake at about 10 years. thanks all
Gerdo
New member
Building skill in a rig with both front and rear diffs open is a great place to start. This will go a long way to keep you safer since you won't be trying to climb things that you shouldn't. As your skills increase, locking the rear will get you thru tons. The guys that I wheel hard with, most are unlocked. You will be amazed what the 4runner will do with driver skill, good wheel placement and a good spotter.
As far as "driveshafts", I think you are talking about front CV axles, correct?
I have thousands of miles wheeling and I'm on my original axles. If you do break one, carry a spare, the proper tools and know how to change them in the field. Also ONLY use Toyota OE or OE rebuilds. The auto parts store "lifetime warranty" axles are made from cheap steel that is poorly heat treated. The break easier and sometimes inside the front diff.
As far as "driveshafts", I think you are talking about front CV axles, correct?
I have thousands of miles wheeling and I'm on my original axles. If you do break one, carry a spare, the proper tools and know how to change them in the field. Also ONLY use Toyota OE or OE rebuilds. The auto parts store "lifetime warranty" axles are made from cheap steel that is poorly heat treated. The break easier and sometimes inside the front diff.
the great him
Elite Member
there is nothing wrong with buying a used locker. i bought my locker that i broke used, and again ARB still stood behind it, and they knew i bought it used. if you can pick one up used go for it!
4Runner_101
Banned
When did this happen?? "Dous" said ARB just changed there warranties to 5 years, wont that mean theyd want to see a receipt??
the great him
Elite Member
this happened before they changed their warranty to 5 years ...from 1 year.
im sure they would like to see receipt but what i think theyed like to see more is their product at the forefront of the sport and in the lead along with outstanding customer reviews and support from very happy customers. now with that said, im by no means advocating trying to cheat the system and get someone to cover a product that they are not entitled to ect. i disclosed up front that i bought the locker used and that this was the second or third vehicle the locker had been in. i was up front and open with ARB about everything, and was simply hoping ARB would be able to repair it. i was fully expecting to and prepared to, and willing to pay for the cost of parts and labor, but they charged me nothing. im not saying this will happen every time all the time, but it is something that i have seen from time to time from large companies with a good name, like ARB, Warn and PIAA... the one thing they all have is outstanding customer service.
-it should be noted here that when my locker broke it broke and jammed into the "locked" position, and that is very "unusual and rare" according to ARB. infact they had never seen or heard of this before, and wanted to see the locker and find out why it did this, as they are designed to default to the "open" position when broken. so that might have been part of the reason ARB repaired my locker for free.
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4Runner_101
Banned
Oo i thought it was 10 years and went to 5 years, my bad, but even better, thanks a lot for the info, back to searching for a used one
JWaldz
Moderator
ARB front locker here.. It'll eat through cv axles like they're made of paper mache. I only use it when I ABSOLUTELY need it. Like to get out of a bad situation or past an obstacle I can't get traction on. Then again, I wouldn't be on these obstacles if I didn't have a front locker. It's very important to remember you can't lay into the throttle and you will want to keep your tires as straight as possible when using it. Otherwise, you're bound to break something. CV axles are your weakest link.
Like stated above, usually the people who buy them, or even front lockers in general, are looking to achieve something. That something is harder wheeling. Harder wheeling = more wear and tear. I wouldn't buy one if you don't really need one. Eventually, when you get ballsy enough, you'll find yourself doing stupid stuff and you'll pay the price. Don't ask me how I know.
:llama:
Like stated above, usually the people who buy them, or even front lockers in general, are looking to achieve something. That something is harder wheeling. Harder wheeling = more wear and tear. I wouldn't buy one if you don't really need one. Eventually, when you get ballsy enough, you'll find yourself doing stupid stuff and you'll pay the price. Don't ask me how I know.
:llama:
IBallEngineer
New member
This seems to be a recurring theme on this board. Its very disheartening. Although JWaldz has done a good job here explaining the caveats of the front locker, he cautions against having one.
I will say it is absolutely an axle breaker, when not used properly. Even with a hearty solid axle they can cause a U-joint or birfield to blow up. This is mostly because when one front wheel is in the air, the other wheel gets 100% of the power, and if it's wedged... well you already know.
Still, if someone is looking for more off-road prowess, what other mod for the money can give him as much? Granted I believe in slow(geared down) wheeling, which can minimize the need to USE the locker. But that won't eliminate, or minimize the benefits when it is needed.
4Wheeling is hard on a vehicle, most know this getting in. A front locker can increase the damage, but it can also save you from slipping against a tree or rock. Or keep you from smashing something under your truck.
The driveshaft you save, could by your own!
Education not discouragement is what we should be giving the OP.
:argue:
JWaldz
Moderator
Not trying to persuade the OP into not getting one. Just making sure he knows what he is getting himself into. These aren't just $200 parts. They're pretty expensive. They're expensive enough to where you almost need a good reason to buy one. Not just b/c you want one. Not saying that's the case here. I'm just saying, you're getting one b/c you're using it and there are advantages and disadvantages to it, especially an ARB.
4Runner_101
Banned
Based on most of my research, ive found most people break stuff from rock climbing. Where im from, Alberta Canada, we dont have much rocks to climb, its mostly all muddy trails, lots o mud here. And i really need one, went off roading when i didnt have the rear locked, got stuck often, when i locked the rear it was a night and day difference, so im pretty sure locking the front when i have to will improve greatly
