Eaton E-Locker in 5th Gen

[Seattle206]

To keep things simple, who has the Eaton E-Locker in their SR5/LTD rear? No more pressurized airlines, solenoids, seals, or o-rings. Currently have an ARB for 5 years now, works when I need it but I want to try a unit a bit less involved in upkeep.

 

[patkelly4370]

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[Ashevillian]

Following!

 

[Daikon]

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same

 

[ruff4runner]

To keep things simple, who has the Eaton E-Locker in their SR5/LTD rear? No more pressurized airlines, solenoids, seals, or o-rings. Currently have an ARB for 5 years now, works when I need it but I want to try a unit a bit less involved in upkeep.

I don't have it in the rear, but I put the Harrop Eaton E-locker in my front differential when I re-geared. I did it for all of the reasons you state, no compressor, solenoids or airlines to fail. About 3 years ago they redesigned the lockers from 2 to 4 pinion gears which fixed the issues a lot of people had. I love mine.

 

[Jono.ful]

I put a Harrop in mine when I did 4.56 gears after Christmas as well.

 

[Seattle206]

[MENTION=81003]Jono.ful[/MENTION] and [MENTION=352797]ruff4runner[/MENTION]

I believe the concern 2-3 years ago was that the Harrop/Eaton unit disengaged in reverse/rollback? Was this issue resolved? Have any of you two experienced disengagement going through obstacles?

 

[Jono.ful]

[MENTION=81003]Jono.ful[/MENTION] and [MENTION=352797]ruff4runner[/MENTION]

I believe the concern 2-3 years ago was that the Harrop/Eaton unit disengaged in reverse/rollback? Was this issue resolved? Have any of you two experienced disengagement going through obstacles?

facts about Harrop elocker engagement

Because of the design of the actuator, it will take about 1/4 revolution of the wheel to reengage when going from forward to reverse, or reverse to forwards. Hardly a reason to avoid purchasing IMO

 

[ruff4runner]

[MENTION=81003]Jono.ful[/MENTION] and [MENTION=352797]ruff4runner[/MENTION]

I believe the concern 2-3 years ago was that the Harrop/Eaton unit disengaged in reverse/rollback? Was this issue resolved? Have any of you two experienced disengagement going through obstacles?

Yes, now with the 4 pinion set up with the new locking plate, most of the time the Harrop Eaton will not disengage going from forward to reverse due to the driveline being bound-up a bit from the differential being locked. If it does disengage it's just a few inches of wheel travel before it re-engages. I have seen video of guys doing rubicon trail stuff with 40's where the Eatons did not engage instantly. If your intention is to have an off road only dedicated rock crawler an air locker will be better for you. If you just want to go over the occasional step or rock garden the Eaton is simple and bulletproof. I have never had an issue with my front locker disengaging. My biggest hang-up with the locker is that it is too easy to engage. I take the relay out so i don't engage it by accident at 70mph by bumping the button. I only plug in the relay when off-road.

This guy hates Eaton e-lockers, but sites the old 2 pinion set up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nYZo--7Xh4&t=311s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSU8NRXhy7o

This guy likes Eaton e-lockers, but clearly works for Eaton:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5t5NEBV6_I

This guy likes them for some situations, but sites the old 2 pinion set up :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x40WGUtdaLI&t=1037s

These guys are Harrop and they like Harrop E-lockers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT_H6rpd-Ck

 

[Seattle206]

Great info. Not a hardcore rock crawler as the T4R is my daily still. I do like doing some more technical obstacles when I get the chance and having a rear locker makes things a walk in the park. I'm going to Moab in late May and that will decide if I want to keep my ARB or not. My woes with the ARB is that damn internal piston seal (not the fault of my installer but by the inherent design by ARB. It's been 4 seals so far). Did you guys wire the harness yourself or the install did it with the locker install? The wiring diagram looks very simple and the install of the locker looks straight forward compared to the ARB.

 

[TheWraith]

Ive had my Harrop / Eaton front locker for a while ... and have been spoiled by it to get me out of trouble.

the Rear is factory and Ive always loved the electronic lockers just because its how Toyota have it and the easy of everything... no worry's about air leaks or air lines.

 

[TheWraith]

Great info. Not a hardcore rock crawler as the T4R is my daily still. I do like doing some more technical obstacles when I get the chance and having a rear locker makes things a walk in the park. I'm going to Moab in late May and that will decide if I want to keep my ARB or not. My woes with the ARB is that damn internal piston seal (not the fault of my installer but by the inherent design by ARB. It's been 4 seals so far). Did you guys wire the harness yourself or the install did it with the locker install? The wiring diagram looks very simple and the install of the locker looks straight forward compared to the ARB.

I heard ... One of the head engineers of ARB kept talking to the owners about issues with the design of their locker. And the inherent weakness and faults. But they didnt want to change anything. So he left and hired on to TJM and basically designed the TJM locker just like the ARB one; with all the issues fixed. For the price TJM is a bad ass unit...

 

[Chubbypanda]

Sub'd
I have 2wd and I live in Texas. I don't get the chance to go off road very often but it does well for me during the rare snow storm and easy camping trails. But I am very interested in this locker to make my 2Runner a bit more capable!

 

[ruff4runner]

Great info. Not a hardcore rock crawler as the T4R is my daily still. I do like doing some more technical obstacles when I get the chance and having a rear locker makes things a walk in the park. I'm going to Moab in late May and that will decide if I want to keep my ARB or not. My woes with the ARB is that damn internal piston seal (not the fault of my installer but by the inherent design by ARB. It's been 4 seals so far). Did you guys wire the harness yourself or the install did it with the locker install? The wiring diagram looks very simple and the install of the locker looks straight forward compared to the ARB.

I had the wiring all done when I went to Nitro for the re-gear. I had a Bussmann RTMR that had unused relays and installed a AOB Toyota style front locker switch. Two wires connected to the Bussmann via weather pack connectors to the locker. The locker came with a wire harness that included a relay, fuse and a rocker switch, I just had everything run already.

 

[NotaTRD]

Great info. Not a hardcore rock crawler as the T4R is my daily still. I do like doing some more technical obstacles when I get the chance and having a rear locker makes things a walk in the park. I'm going to Moab in late May and that will decide if I want to keep my ARB or not. My woes with the ARB is that damn internal piston seal (not the fault of my installer but by the inherent design by ARB. It's been 4 seals so far). Did you guys wire the harness yourself or the install did it with the locker install? The wiring diagram looks very simple and the install of the locker looks straight forward compared to the ARB.

Wow, sorry to hear about your misfortune with the bonded seals going bad. I assume you’ve previously talked with ARB and had your seals replaced a few times under their bonded seal replacement program?

 

[Seattle206]

Wow, sorry to hear about your misfortune with the bonded seals going bad. I assume you’ve previously talked with ARB and had your seals replaced a few times under their bonded seal replacement program?

Yes, no charge for the replacement but tired of having the vehicle out for a few days per seal change and having the diff torn apart repeatedly. My current seal has been good for 2 years now. If it goes, E-Locker it is.

 

[NotaTRD]

I hear you. Had mine replaced last summer. ARB took care of everything and it’s been solid since the seals were replaced. How long between when each of yours were replaced and went bad?

 

[dride]

Subscribed.

I just ordered 4.88’s and will be going Eaton front and rear (sr5). I don’t do any real crawling but I need gears so “when in Rome ”. Simplicity and reliability.


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[Seattle206]

I hear you. Had mine replaced last summer. ARB took care of everything and it’s been solid since the seals were replaced. How long between when each of yours were replaced and went bad?

9/2016: Initial install. Unit ran great for a year until the locker started leaking internally.

11/2017: Bench tested, installer found it was the internal seal. He replaced it. No charge.

4/2018: Locker starts leaking again. ARB gave me a new locker (along with the same design piston seal). No charge. Also, one of my rear wheel bearings went bad as oil contaminated it. This was due to all that air pressure leaking into the axle. The pressure pushed my axle seal outward letting diff oil escape into the bearing and e-brake housing. $900 out-of-pocket-fix.

7/2018: Locker starts leaking again. Took in for a new seal, supposedly the "upgraded" seal. Instead of taking it back to the original installer (90 mins away) I went to a nearby shop who replaced the seal, paid $600 for convenience. Smh at myself...

Today: I get intermittent compressor cycles now and then on the trail, more than I'd like but at least the air isn't getting coming out the axle breather like all the previous times.

The issue has always been the bonded piston seal, not the seal housing (o-rings), not the bulkhead, copper line, airline, or compressor. Tested all the other variables. Don't know if this seal is going to last but so far its been a little over 2 years. From all the raving reviews on various forums I was hoping the ARB would be services once every 10 years but that is not my case.

 

[Xtremluck]

9/2016: Initial install. Unit ran great for a year until the locker started leaking internally.

11/2017: Bench tested, installer found it was the internal seal. He replaced it. No charge.

4/2018: Locker starts leaking again. ARB gave me a new locker (along with the same design piston seal). No charge. Also, one of my rear wheel bearings went bad as oil contaminated it. This was due to all that air pressure leaking into the axle. The pressure pushed my axle seal outward letting diff oil escape into the bearing and e-brake housing. $900 out-of-pocket-fix.

7/2018: Locker starts leaking again. Took in for a new seal, supposedly the "upgraded" seal. Instead of taking it back to the original installer (90 mins away) I went to a nearby shop who replaced the seal, paid $600 for convenience. Smh at myself...

Today: I get intermittent compressor cycles now and then on the trail, more than I'd like but at least the air isn't getting coming out the axle breather like all the previous times.

The issue has always been the bonded piston seal, not the seal housing (o-rings), not the bulkhead, copper line, airline, or compressor. Tested all the other variables. Don't know if this seal is going to last but so far its been a little over 2 years. From all the raving reviews on various forums I was hoping the ARB would be services once every 10 years but that is not my case.

Yikes, given all these issues I hear about ARB air lockers i cant imagine why someone would use them. For anyone who is interested these are the official Eaton part #s