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arb or tjm air locker

General Tech Talk

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arb or tjm air locker

Post by tuff6ty »

i am building a winch truck and i have a newish pro locker in the front and i was thinking of using it in my comp truck and just buy another for the rear or should i just go and buy 2 arb air lockers
any help will do on deciding
cheers
nathan
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Post by nastytroll »

I prefer pro lockers, they have a more reliable design.
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Post by grimbo »

nastytroll wrote:I prefer pro lockers, they have a more reliable design.
yeah cause the ARB have such a shocking and unrelaible design :roll:
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Post by bazzle »

nastytroll wrote:I prefer pro lockers, they have a more reliable design.
Do they?/

Nice to know.
Can you post that info please? Thanks Bazzle
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Post by MightyMouse »

Personally I think both brands are well designed units ( I have ARB ) and have had no locker issues. Apparently the O ring air seal on the ARB is its least reliable feature - but its seemingly a minor issue.

IMO you would not be disappointed with either, buy whats cheapest
( usual disclaimers )

It seemed like a much better idea when I started it than it does now.
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Post by nastytroll »

the O rings are the bad part of the ARB, I have 5 ARB's n 1 pro locker. I have fitted quite a few pro lockers and would only buy pro locker if I was to another locker.

Yes the O rings are a minor problem and you will normally only find out that there is a problem when you need them and it requires the centre to come out to be repaired.

I have had to get O rings replaced on ARB lockers that I have not fitted, as the pro locker uses an independent air cylinder and fork arangement there is no wearing components when they are not in use.

The prolockers are a similar design to the nissan factory vacuum lockers but are all inside the diff housing.

The pro lockers come with a heavy duty air line standard and will not leak oil back through the solinoid. The HD airline are an optional extra on the ARB so should be included on the price.

Both lockers are strong enough, its only the air activation that sways me to the pro lockers for reliability. Price wise they are very similar when you include the HD airline.

Pictures of the internal workings are availabe on there respective web sites.

Grimbo its nice to see how pro active you are to peoples questions.
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Post by waxen »

The Pro locker also uses a one piece cross shaft (better & stronger), whereas the ARB has a three piece design.
The actuating cage cage inside the ARB's hemispere is plastic and cracks with time, they are cheap but require a complete strip down to replace. The Pro Lockers has hardened steel posts, offers more support and doesn't break.
The air solenoid of the Pro locker is external from the hemispere and has no leakage issues.
The Pro Locker is the Mcnamara locker under license
My opinon is that the Pro Locker is a further refinement of the ARB locker and is better, given that they both utilise the same locking mechanism.
Just my 2 cents worth
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Post by tuff6ty »

thanks for the replies guys i think i will save my money buy pulling the locker out my old 60 and puting it in my comp truck and just buy one for the rear
cheers nathan
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Post by segan1 »

After being at the McNamara work shop the other day and seeing both lockers side by side on the bench and how they operate and are put together i will take the Pro locker any day. Just wish i had this info when i bought my ARB lockers because there would be a pair of Pro lockers were the ARB lockers are now sitting.
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Post by lyall »

From being inside the industry.. for now do not touch the pro locker as they are having QA issues. Design= Perfect, Build=not even close to perfect. Until the issue of build and build quality is perfected i would not touch one.

This is not a biased opinion but purley one that is based upon actually seeing some things personally and until it is resolved i would not touch one.
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Post by bogged »

which ever you can get the best price on.
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Post by Jeeps »

the ARB swtiches look better but the TJM switches feel better. That's how you should base your decision LOL :D
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Post by jimbo jones »

Im have had 3 pro locker and love em would pick them over the ARB one anyday
current truck, 105 series GXL diesel 6" springs & twin pro lockers
sierra LWB spoa one wide track diffs twin locked

Sierra Parts Wanted pm me
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Post by coxy321 »

lyall wrote:From being inside the industry.. for now do not touch the pro locker as they are having QA issues. Design= Perfect, Build=not even close to perfect. Until the issue of build and build quality is perfected i would not touch one.

This is not a biased opinion but purley one that is based upon actually seeing some things personally and until it is resolved i would not touch one.
Can you elaborate for us??

Just out of curiosity, what $$$ are the pro lockers selling for (suit GQ). I know the Air lockers are $1250 or something.

Coxy
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Post by dansedgli »

I got a price of $1258 for a front GQ pro locker.
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Post by ROGQ »

Jeeps wrote:the ARB swtiches look better but the TJM switches feel better. That's how you should base your decision LOL :D
What colour to the tjm switches light up?
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Post by HSV Rangie »

go the PRO.

Michael
l
Mitsubishi 2010 NT DID Pajero wagon, Factory rear diff lock, Dual batteries, ARB bar, winch, Mt ATZ 4 rib tyres.
1986 RR.
Custom suspension links etc.
HSV 215 engine.
4.3 diffs.
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Post by nastytroll »

the swithches are both carling switches, the TJM switches are better because the rocker is resessed inside the bezel.

If you knock the ARB switch from the side it will break the rocker pivot, no problem on the TJM switch.

I think the TJM switch has a RED dash light and a YELLOW on light. I cant remember and they are in the girls car.
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Post by Mick. »

I'm running pro lockers in my comp truck running 42s and i haven't had any problems with them.

The problems that TJM where having with pro lockers where one of the manufacturers where making dodgy parts so TJM stopped buying the parts off them and soarced another suppler which is the reason there is has been a long waiting list for GQ/GU lockers at the moment.

The problem has been sorted and the lockers I'd imagine should be available again soon. As far as I'm aware it only affected a certain about of lockers which only a few got sold anyway which I'm sure TJM will replace if they break.

This info come from mate who actually works for a TJM store. BTW he also said they haven't had a TJM locker come back for warrenty work yet.

I'm surprised no one mentioned that there no tyre size limit in the TJM warranties either apparently.

Cheers Mick.
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Post by joeblow »

! :?
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Post by mmhey »

waxen wrote:The Pro locker also uses a one piece cross shaft (better & stronger), whereas the ARB has a three piece design.
The actuating cage cage inside the ARB's hemispere is plastic and cracks with time, they are cheap but require a complete strip down to replace. The Pro Lockers has hardened steel posts, offers more support and doesn't break.
got some test figures? [ psssst...i hear there are still weopons of mass destruction in iraq too!]
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Post by grimbo »

nastytroll wrote:Grimbo its nice to see how pro active you are to peoples questions.
just like your initial post? ARB have sold over 1 million lockers world wide over many years for many types of vehicles, hardly due to an unreliable design. Not sure what you mean by proactive to peoples questions?
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Post by fourbyconvert »

grimbo wrote:
nastytroll wrote:Grimbo its nice to see how pro active you are to peoples questions.
just like your initial post? ARB have sold over 1 million lockers world wide over many years for many types of vehicles, hardly due to an unreliable design. Not sure what you mean by proactive to peoples questions?
Probably that you are quick to jump in with comments on any thread that mentions ARB
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Post by bad_religion_au »

grimbo wrote:
nastytroll wrote:Grimbo its nice to see how pro active you are to peoples questions.
just like your initial post? ARB have sold over 1 million lockers world wide over many years for many types of vehicles, hardly due to an unreliable design. Not sure what you mean by proactive to peoples questions?
i believe that they have sold over 1 million lockers due to good marketing and a lack of competition in some segments (i.e. who else historically made a selectable locker for a triton, or until recently, a GU patrol?)

this has nothing to do with design superiority.
Last edited by bad_religion_au on Mon Apr 28, 2008 5:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by Guy »

bogged wrote:which ever you can get the best price on.
X2 .. they both lock the diff at the flick of a switch most of the time ... you only hear bout the ones that break .. as there are literally millions of airlocker out in the market you hear about more bust ones ...


Both are well designed and reliable for the most part
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Post by nastytroll »

grimbo wrote:
nastytroll wrote:Grimbo its nice to see how pro active you are to peoples questions.
just like your initial post? ARB have sold over 1 million lockers world wide over many years for many types of vehicles, hardly due to an unreliable design. Not sure what you mean by proactive to peoples questions?
Your original statement did nothing to help with the original question.

As I have stated I have got 5 airlockers and have had lo replace the O-rings on 1 of them because it leaked so bad it would not engage. I am sure there will be others that have had the same problem, ie "A "RELIABILITY DESIGN ISSUE".

The pro lockers with the seporate air actuator would be a more reliable design due to no wearing part on the air seals when not in use.

I have also stated that the diffs are strong enough, even though the pro lockers have a stonger cross shaft and larger bearing spigots.

I have had to repair airlockers where the grub screw that hold the cross shaft segment in have come loose and jammed up (hilux from memory).

I have also had lo repair airlockers that have sheared the bearing spiogts off the carriers, Nissan GQ/GU rears, 79 series rear, 80 series front and its a common hilux problem that I have read here aswell.

The only prolocker issues I have had have been the fault of the installers, 1 bloke bent the air actuator bracket when putting the centre in the housing, the other a circlip groove was damaged on the air actuator and the hard line moved out and leaked air.

I am sure others have had problems but that is all I have had with them personally.

I am happy enough with my airlockers, I never said they were a bad product.

So whats your next smart answer? Do you have any input where the airlocker is superior to the pro locker or are you just padding?
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Post by grimbo »

you didn't say any of that in your initial post and padding means nothing on here and my statement of the history of the ARB locker goes in some way explaining my choice added to it my R&D of the Sierra locker for ARB. Is that enough of a smart answer for you?
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Post by nastytroll »

I stated my preference, didnt know I had to do the reserach on sales numbers and how many have failed.

I have had a better run from the pro lockers and like there design better.

ARB do have a better selection and are strong enough for most.

I also saw no reason to bag out anyones product.

You like your airlocker I'm happy for you, but why replace a locker with another that has a known problem.

This thread has deviated abit from the original topic, as all do eventually on here and turn into a pissing contest.

tuff6ty I hope you have had enough responses to answer your question.
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Post by chunderlicious »

just get another pro locker. that one piece rod used to be a real problem. i have a workmate who used to work for TJM in the actual factory thing and he said steer clear because that shaft was a weak point.

i have airlockers front and rear and like them. if i had of set the car up myself i would have put pro lockers in

just get one more pro locker
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Post by mmhey »

Mick. wrote:


This info come from mate who actually works for a TJM store. BTW he also said they haven't had a TJM locker come back for warrenty work yet.



Cheers Mick.
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