rear locker---air vs electronic---pros, cons, prices, options,----aware me

ddnww

ddnww

New member
One of the upgrades Im considering. I know theres a couple threads on it, but wanted some up to date feedback on the subject.

:yo:
 
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Not a lot of choices for e-lockers...

Eaton is a major manufacture but I dont think they have a Toyota option. I know you can swap in a factory retrofit.

You also have mechanical lockers, which basically disengage around corners using friction of the road. My friend has one in his Tacoma... It feels a bit more of a dedicated wheeling setup as you dont really have any control over it. Makes for an interesting drive in the snow.

ARB air lockers IMO seems like a gold standard regarding an aftermarket option. Its also the most complex in regards to installation as you now need to consider adding on-board air infrastructure to run the system. That said, they do have their own mini-tank system which was designed for this.

I think from a cost standpoint, the ARB version is probably the most expensive to buy and implement. It also seems to be the most robust/quality option.

I see some generic version, or Chinese clones, but when it comes to this type of drive component I think it would be wise to buy the best you can afford.

I am still in the research phase myself, but so far all signs point to ARB for my front and rear locker setup.
 
ddnww said:
awesome , thanks. Did you install it yourself or pay labor. How much was labor if so?
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I paid 4 wheel parts to install it. With a 3 year parts and labor warranty they charged me about $500 if I recall..

It's worth it.

As far as "onboard air infrastructure".. you're making it sound a lot more complicated than it is.. you bolt on a compressor unit. You plug it in. You run a tube to your rear diff. Easy

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I have a yukon air locker up front and a factory E-locker on the rear of my 3rd gen. I'd go with an air locker if I had the choice. I've seen a lot of broken e-lockers. Plus you would have to modify the housing to fit an e-locker.
 
Theres also retrofitting an FJ E locker

as well. Either complete or just the 3rd. :flypig:
 
Bumbo said:
Not a lot of choices for e-lockers...

Eaton is a major manufacture but I dont think they have a Toyota option. I know you can swap in a factory retrofit.

You also have mechanical lockers, which basically disengage around corners using friction of the road. My friend has one in his Tacoma... It feels a bit more of a dedicated wheeling setup as you dont really have any control over it. Makes for an interesting drive in the snow.

ARB air lockers IMO seems like a gold standard regarding an aftermarket option. Its also the most complex in regards to installation as you now need to consider adding on-board air infrastructure to run the system. That said, they do have their own mini-tank system which was designed for this.

I think from a cost standpoint, the ARB version is probably the most expensive to buy and implement. It also seems to be the most robust/quality option.

I see some generic version, or Chinese clones, but when it comes to this type of drive component I think it would be wise to buy the best you can afford.

I am still in the research phase myself, but so far all signs point to ARB for my front and rear locker setup.
Click to expand...
nice :thumb3:

ExCabSwap said:
I paid 4 wheel parts to install it. With a 3 year parts and labor warranty they charged me about $500 if I recall..

It's worth it.

As far as "onboard air infrastructure".. you're making it sound a lot more complicated than it is.. you bolt on a compressor unit. You plug it in. You run a tube to your rear diff. Easy

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Click to expand...
that's not a bad price. If I'm going to go air, then I will go will a full compressor tank setup for the locker, train horn, and airing on the trail.

vegask said:
I have a yukon air locker up front and a factory E-locker on the rear of my 3rd gen. I'd go with an air locker if I had the choice. I've seen a lot of broken e-lockers. Plus you would have to modify the housing to fit an e-locker.
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thanks

jrm said:
as well. Either complete or just the 3rd. :flypig:
Click to expand...
what would the cost of retrofitting be?
 
Well now I am thinking either the ARB or a retrofit e locker. I like the thought of a retrofit, but that advantage on the ARB would be that I can knock out putting in a train horn and a trail airing system at the same time.
 
ddnww said:
Well now I am thinking either the ARB or a retrofit e locker. I like the thought of a retrofit, but that advantage on the ARB would be that I can knock out putting in a train horn and a trail airing system at the same time.
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Trail air system will mean you'll want the most robust compressor they offer..

Wait for ARB or 4wp to hold another promotion.. i got my compressor for free with ARB purchase.. then you can just pay the difference for the upgraded compressor.


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ExCabSwap said:
Trail air system will mean you'll want the most robust compressor they offer..

Wait for ARB or 4wp to hold another promotion.. i got my compressor for free with ARB purchase.. then you can just pay the difference for the upgraded compressor.


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Click to expand...
Im wondering though how the ARB compressors compare to Viair or Zenith compressors.
 
I have a rear FJ Elocker in my rear and love it. I was originally planning on doing a retro fit but then got lucky and my buddy upgraded his rear on his FJ so I grabbed his housing and just swapped the whole thing with a new rebuilt 3rd. The retro fit really isn't that bad just some notching of the housing,drilling and tapping a couple of holes, it's easier to do if you can drop the housing but you can still do it while still mounted up it's just a little more difficult. Also make sure you get the correct gasket because I received the wrong one from Toyota cause that's what you'll use to mark your housing for notching and drilling. There is a good write up on T120 it's not too difficult you just have to take your time. But at the end of the day if you can do your own work then it's the cheaper option and they work great! I found a used FJ 3rd on eBay for a few hundred bucks with bad pinion bearings and sent it to ECGS and had them re build it with a solid pinion Spacer.

My buddy and others I know run Arb air lockers and they love them. They are the way to go if you have the money to spend. A good quality product. They have their flaws to like any, Mostly I've only heard of them having problems if one of the lines gets pinched or is leaking. Same goes for Elockers they can fail or the locker motor can go bad.


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ddnww said:
Im wondering though how the ARB compressors compare to Viair or Zenith compressors.
Click to expand...

for the money, there are better compressors. though, you would then have to come up with your own switching, both pressure and in cab. even still, you could be into the compressor for less than half what the ARB set up will run you.
 
Nyc-Runner said:
I have a rear FJ Elocker in my rear and love it. I was originally planning on doing a retro fit but then got lucky and my buddy upgraded his rear on his FJ so I grabbed his housing and just swapped the whole thing with a new rebuilt 3rd. The retro fit really isn't that bad just some notching of the housing,drilling and tapping a couple of holes, it's easier to do if you can drop the housing but you can still do it while still mounted up it's just a little more difficult. Also make sure you get the correct gasket because I received the wrong one from Toyota cause that's what you'll use to mark your housing for notching and drilling. There is a good write up on T120 it's not too difficult you just have to take your time. But at the end of the day if you can do your own work then it's the cheaper option and they work great! I found a used FJ 3rd on eBay for a few hundred bucks with bad pinion bearings and sent it to ECGS and had them re build it with a solid pinion Spacer.

My buddy and others I know run Arb air lockers and they love them. They are the way to go if you have the money to spend. A good quality product. They have their flaws to like any, Mostly I've only heard of them having problems if one of the lines gets pinched or is leaking. Same goes for Elockers they can fail or the locker motor can go bad.


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Click to expand...

Im a little confused between a retrofit and the fj e locker.. I thought they were one in the same. Im new to this particular subject.

I've read mixed reviews on the ARB compressors. I think also, some people don't have nothing to compare them to so they are happy with what they know. I come from owning two cars with custom air ride setups and used viair, zenith, and an EDC(engine driven compressor) so I am wondering which is better . I have read some that said the viairs are much better which is what I would suspect.
 
nevada said:
for the money, there are better compressors. though, you would then have to come up with your own switching, both pressure and in cab. even still, you could be into the compressor for less than half what the ARB set up will run you.
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that's not an issue, air systems are easy plumbing and electrical. I could probably piece together a better setup than a kit for a similar price.
 
If you want air lockers, tank, and air horns... you really want two air system.

The reason I used the term air infrastructure in the first place is because its exactly that. You need in order for the system to function, its not an accessory or optional item.

For lockers I am getting a separate dedicated unit, the small ARB unit, just to run the lockers. You need to maintain pressure for lockers to work, and I just want a small closed system for it.

I also have a 400P Viair compressor and a tank I haven't installed yet. Space is at a premium here... even under the hood because where people put the compressor on a 4th gen I have a 2nd battery, ACR, LVD, and fuse block.

As you build system in the truck, you need to take into account space, because I found it fills up fast. Chances are the tank is going to end up in the cab if I cant find a place under the car.

I feel a lot better with two dedicated systems... I can always fail over to one or the other if I have issues. Plus I dont want accessory air to cause any complications with a mission critical system like lockers.
 
I have an onboard York 210 belt driven compressor on my 3rd gen pickup. At about 1500 rpm, the ARB dual system on a buddy's rig can pretty much keep up with it. We can run air tools, and with my 3 gallon tank compared to his 5 gallon tank, I think my impact ran a little bit longer on mine than on his before it started to slow down.. guess we'll have to get some hard numbers, and I'll look for the data sheet of cfm ratings if you want, but anything that can keep up or come close to my York really impresses me.

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My setup is similar to Bumbo's in that I'm running my ARB off the smallest ARB compressor, but that's because it was included for free with the ARB purchase a couple years ago. My OBA setup is a completely separate system, however my buddy runs all of his air accessories off of his double ARB pump

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Arb or ???

It seems 8 out of ten guys go with the ARB i just blew my third member this weekend, I slammed the brakes and then it happened truck limped forward and skipped you can hear the horrible noise when i was been towed back and it sucks so I guess I have some research to do up here in NYc its hard to find the right guys if anyone knows a spot let me now right now considering driving to north carolina and towing it on a flatbed putting in the arb an 4.56..at ECGS.., they quoted at least 2k
 
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