ARB Air-Locker - Need advises and insights

[CapChimiChangas]

Hi Everyone,

I'm planning to regear. I need to purchase the lockers now. I have all the gear already, so now is the time to add a locker. I already ordered the air compressor, and I'll add an air locker. Now, I am planning an ARB.

For reference, the RD245 from ARB is used for my axles, Dana 44 M210 and M220, at 32 splines.

So, one thing that still conflicts with me is the Airline over the ring and the placement of the hole to pass the airline. Has/Has anyone installed these Locks? How have they been so far? Can I puncture a hole at the same place they pass the electrical exit for an ELocker, or can I literally make a hole on the right side instead of going over the Ring?

This going over the ring is getting on my nerves.

P.S.: If ELocker is the way to go, the compressor doesn't go to waste.

[06/30/2025 Update]
- Compressor arrived, picking up tomorrow
-ARB is the choice
- Lasfit Switches are ready for the regear and Lockers

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[froril]

I would over the ring. It gives you more play in the copper tube making it less likely to break when you are setting up the bulkhead.

 

[CapChimiChangas]

I would over the ring. It gives you more play in the copper tube, making it less likely to break when you are setting up the bulkhead.

OK, cool. I saw that. I wondered if there was a workaround to avoid going over the ring. I'll brace for impact since everyone using it is over the ring. Unless someone convinces me, "No, elocker is the right solution since they are 110% reliable," I could then rethink. So far, this seems to be the way to go. Thanks @froril

 

[froril]

Over the ring isn’t a big deal to get set up. I did both front and rear lockers in my garage over a weekend.
Just be gentle and patient with the copper otherwise it’s fairly easy to break. Once you have it where you want it it’s good to go.
I’ve seen people try to go straight up through the housing and it’s way easy to break the tubing getting the curve that tight. There’s less tubing and it’s easier to kink the tubing. I’m not saying it’s impossible to do just harder.

If you do break the tubing the seal housing is pressed under the bearings and you have to pull the bearings off and then press them back on.

My ARB lockers have taken me everywhere I’ve tried to go. I like them a lot. highly recommend.

 

[Deleted member 57233]

Unless someone convinces me, "No, elocker is the right solution since they are 110% reliable," I could then rethink. So far, this seems to be the way to go. Thanks @froril

I've always heard e lockers are more reliable, air lockers engage faster.

 

[froril]

ARB lockers themselves are super reliable. The failures related to air lockers are usually related to everything that you need to make it work not the differential itself. Having to have a compressor, switches, and airlines adds more complexity and therefore more things to go wrong. It’s definitely a more complicated system to setup and maintain than a E-Locker.

 

[mdyucca]

Tewltalk on you tube has provided good on this subject. This should help you out. “Part 2 how to drill and tap your axel”

 

[DronePilot]

I did mine using Tewltalk videos, my advice to you, get a good set of drill bits forget Home depot sets. Get a good american made ones.

 

[Janster]

ARB lockers themselves are super reliable. The failures related to air lockers are usually related to everything that you need to make it work not the differential itself. Having to have a compressor, switches, and airlines adds more complexity and therefore more things to go wrong. It’s definitely a more complicated system to setup and maintain than a E-Locker.

Absolutely….. We had a pair of ARB’s in the YJ for a good 8 years. And they got used a lot. The ARB’s themselves were installed professionally in the Dana 44’s. We did the A/C compressor setup w/ air tank an routed our own lines. Never had any problems with anything. ARB’s have been around reliably for a very long time. The reliability (or lack of) is all in the install.

There’s nothing more satisfying than trying an obstacle without lockers…. Spin spin spin…. Reach down and engage the locker (or lockers) while you’re still spinning… and GRAB!! And away you go…. And of course…the sound it makes when you disengage it. . Totally worth it an the best upgrade we did.

 

[CapChimiChangas]

Tewltalk on you tube has provided good on this subject. This should help you out. “Part 2 how to drill and tap your axel”

Thanks for the suggestion, I watched a few videos, and will watch this one now.
This guy helped me convince myself to choose the Sport and the ARB instead of the Elocker !!

 

[CapChimiChangas]

Absolutely….. We had a pair of ARB’s in the YJ for a good 8 years. And they got used a lot. The ARB’s themselves were installed professionally in the Dana 44’s. We did the A/C compressor setup w/ air tank an routed our own lines. Never had any problems with anything. ARB’s have been around reliably for a very long time. The reliability (or lack of) is all in the install.

There’s nothing more satisfying than trying an obstacle without lockers…. Spin spin spin…. Reach down and engage the locker (or lockers) while you’re still spinning… and GRAB!! And away you go…. And of course…the sound it makes when you disengage it. . Totally worth it an the best upgrade we did.

Thanks

Absolutely….. We had a pair of ARB’s in the YJ for a good 8 years. And they got used a lot. The ARB’s themselves were installed professionally in the Dana 44’s. We did the A/C compressor setup w/ air tank an routed our own lines. Never had any problems with anything. ARB’s have been around reliably for a very long time. The reliability (or lack of) is all in the install.

There’s nothing more satisfying than trying an obstacle without lockers…. Spin spin spin…. Reach down and engage the locker (or lockers) while you’re still spinning… and GRAB!! And away you go…. And of course…the sound it makes when you disengage it. . Totally worth it an the best upgrade we did.

Thanks for the feedback

 

[CapChimiChangas]

ARB lockers themselves are super reliable. The failures related to air lockers are usually related to everything that you need to make it work not the differential itself. Having to have a compressor, switches, and airlines adds more complexity and therefore more things to go wrong. It’s definitely a more complicated system to setup and maintain than a E-Locker.

That was my feeling/perception of all I had read and seen so far. Thanks!

The setup is more involved, but the reliability of these lockers is what I'm looking for. I need an off-roader capable of taking me places from groceries and the office to cross the Rubicon and Moab.

 

[CapChimiChangas]

I did mine using Tewltalk videos, my advice to you, get a good set of drill bits forget Home depot sets. Get a good american made ones.

got it

 

[CapChimiChangas]

Over the ring isn’t a big deal to get set up. I did both front and rear lockers in my garage over a weekend.
Just be gentle and patient with the copper otherwise it’s fairly easy to break. Once you have it where you want it it’s good to go.
I’ve seen people try to go straight up through the housing and it’s way easy to break the tubing getting the curve that tight. There’s less tubing and it’s easier to kink the tubing. I’m not saying it’s impossible to do just harder.

If you do break the tubing the seal housing is pressed under the bearings and you have to pull the bearings off and then press them back on.

My ARB lockers have taken me everywhere I’ve tried to go. I like them a lot. highly recommend.

Thanks !!
I'm setting myself up for some pain. Regear and do the lockers at the same time.

Switches are ready, open that dash on a 2024+ is a pain in the guts, compared to up to 2023, from 2 minutes to almost an hour, removing parts and screws. But is done!
Now, I will install the compressor, which arrived today.

Then, finally, Lockers and Regear.

 

[Zachattack50]

Another plus 1 for ARB, I have finally learned to just pay the man at the 4x4 shop to install differential stuff. I installed and ran the air lines, compressor and electrical. Just had my local shop setup the locker and gear set. To easy, super reliable. They did run the copper over the ring gear, I saw that when I did the fluid change after break in.

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