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AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 5:45 pm
by TOJO 12-HT
Has anyone got these ARB Air Locker look alikes, i seen em on eby. wondering wat they like??
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 7:09 pm
by stilivn
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 9:23 pm
by TOJO 12-HT
f... me that took me 3hrs to read all that lol
looks ok tho...
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 10:08 pm
by Shieldsy
Whats the saying??
You get what you pay for........
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 10:59 pm
by supazuk
Shieldsy wrote:Whats the saying??
You get what you pay for........
if only that was true
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 11:04 pm
by toughnut
They are made in GuangZhou in China which is where I fly in and out for work. I'm trying to get some time there to be able to drop in and visit the factory. I've already spoken with them and they are really interested in me dropping by. I just haven't been able to organise it with my flights done through work. I'll throw up an update if I get the chance to drop by. Won't happen for a few weeks though.
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 8:22 pm
by TOJO 12-HT
supazuk wrote:Shieldsy wrote:Whats the saying??
You get what you pay for........
if only that was true
X2
i know they cant ever b as good as arb, BUT its goin in a 24year old cruiser. i wish i had 3 grand spare, id deff go tjm pro locker.
iv got arb atm but all they do is leake n my loacal arb wont sell me seals!!!! wtf, he jus told me by new lockers!!!
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 8:23 pm
by TOJO 12-HT
toughnut wrote:They are made in GuangZhou in China which is where I fly in and out for work. I'm trying to get some time there to be able to drop in and visit the factory. I've already spoken with them and they are really interested in me dropping by. I just haven't been able to organise it with my flights done through work. I'll throw up an update if I get the chance to drop by. Won't happen for a few weeks though.
cool thanks, be interestin wat u find n c.
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 8:51 pm
by rockcrawler31
TOJO 12-HT wrote:supazuk wrote:Shieldsy wrote:Whats the saying??
You get what you pay for........
if only that was true
X2
i know they cant ever b as good as arb, BUT its goin in a 24year old cruiser. i wish i had 3 grand spare, id deff go tjm pro locker.
iv got arb atm but all they do is leake n my loacal arb wont sell me seals!!!! wtf, he jus told me by new lockers!!!
Talk to a different dealer or go to a diff shop and ask them to order in the part. That is definately NOT australia wide ARB policy on parts.
and don't get the cheap lockers. Sure it'll work out even in the end when you buy 5 lockers for the price of one ARB locker, but siting on the side of the track covered in diff oil eats pure dog d1ck.
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 9:36 pm
by V.W.Dave
I know 2 people that have the cheaper lockers and both of them have not had any problems. Both of them are only running small tires. 31s on a zook and 33s on a lux. the zook it running iut in the rear the lux has it in the front. Both have been in there for about 6 months now and none have any problems.
Everything I have read is they are near identical to the old arb but the internals are made of a lighter (not as strong) metals.
In my opinion for a dayly driver or a very lightly off roader its perfect. But you wouldnt catch me dead with them in a heavy cruiser or patrol or with tires bigger then 33s.
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 9:44 pm
by TOJO 12-HT
V.W.Dave wrote:I know 2 people that have the cheaper lockers and both of them have not had any problems. Both of them are only running small tires. 31s on a zook and 33s on a lux. the zook it running iut in the rear the lux has it in the front. Both have been in there for about 6 months now and none have any problems.
Everything I have read is they are near identical to the old arb but the internals are made of a lighter (not as strong) metals.
In my opinion for a dayly driver or a very lightly off roader its perfect. But you wouldnt catch me dead with them in a heavy cruiser or patrol or with tires bigger then 33s.
yeah itll be driven hard on 35inch simex silverstones n modded factory turbo motor
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 3:32 pm
by P@nda
I know of a guy running the chinese produced air locker in his zuke truggy, GQ diffs on 40's & he's hasnt had a problem with them. Even engaging under heavy load. I'll deffinately be purchasing a couple in the future.
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 9:42 am
by hulsty
TOJO 12-HT wrote:V.W.Dave wrote:I know 2 people that have the cheaper lockers and both of them have not had any problems. Both of them are only running small tires. 31s on a zook and 33s on a lux. the zook it running iut in the rear the lux has it in the front. Both have been in there for about 6 months now and none have any problems.
Everything I have read is they are near identical to the old arb but the internals are made of a lighter (not as strong) metals.
In my opinion for a dayly driver or a very lightly off roader its perfect. But you wouldnt catch me dead with them in a heavy cruiser or patrol or with tires bigger then 33s.
yeah itll be driven hard on 35inch simex silverstones n modded factory turbo motor
IMO I would get ARB's even used, RD33 used come up semi reguarly $550ish with gears etc. I have RD33's they arent to bad, but the good thing is, better quality control and parts availability. I know the Chinese ones are supposed to have parts interchangeability, but what if they dont? I recently blew up my RD33 and it was easy enough to find all the parts needed to fix it.
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 11:50 am
by Hamo
From report's off other forum's , The new design ARB arnt cutting it any more.
Maybe there now made in china too..
I went with Eaton Elocker's
Hamo
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 12:47 pm
by tuff 45
Hamo wrote:From report's off other forum's , The new design ARB arnt cutting it any more.
Maybe there now made in china too..
I went with Eaton Elocker's
Hamo
What are the Eaton Elockers
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 3:07 pm
by 4_low
The elockers are much the same as the Air Locker only they work on 12v not air. Being Eaton i dont think you would have many problems as they have been around for a long time in the US but only been on the Australian market for a few years now.
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 3:19 pm
by Hamo
tuff 45 wrote:What are the Eaton Elockers
Sold at Oppisite lock
Sorry i tried to supply a link but the web site is down
Hamo
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 6:36 pm
by tuff 45
Thanks Hamo and 4_low, havnt heard of them b4, i guess they are similar cost to air lockers, ill look into it a bit more.
Thanks guys
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 6:40 am
by Hamo
tuff 45 wrote:Thanks Hamo and 4_low, havnt heard of them b4, i guess they are similar cost to air lockers, ill look into it a bit more.
Thanks guys
Web sites back up.
Cost about $1500 each ,But you dont need a compressor & there's no air leaks to worry about.
Mine are for an 80 series. But i havnt got around to fitting them yet.
http://www.oppositelock.com.au/index.ph ... ectionID=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Hamo
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 8:30 am
by 80's_delirious
rockcrawler31 wrote:
Sure it'll work out even in the end when you buy 5 lockers for the price of one ARB locker, but siting on the side of the track covered in diff oil eats pure dog d1ck.
Especially if your cheap arse locker also takes out axles or diff gears at the same time.
I had a cheap CV break, it also took out the spindle, damaged the axle, by the time I bought a new CV plus replaced all the samaged bits, I could have bought a chromo CV for that side.
If your budget is tight have you looked at auto lockers?
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 10:47 pm
by DIRTY ROCK STAR
i always refer back to an old saying...
"a poor man pays twice".
these chinese knockoffs will one day be good. but i have a feeling for now they are something you would buy... have breakages or issues. then get the shits and buy ARB or similar costing you more plus the dramas along the way.
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 11:02 pm
by chris_stoffa
There is one good thing about these copy lockers, eventually as said they will "one day be better"
And when that happens they will bring the price down of the ARB / Eaton units.
Like it or lump it, that won't be too far away.
I can remember a time when nobody would buy "Jap Crap"
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 9:19 am
by loosecanon
Remeber Tojo 12-HT said he has already got Air lockers. I think you would be crazy to get rid of them, they are the cream of the crop. Why go to a cheaper unknown brand if you already have one of the best on the market. I think if you look hard enough you will find the seal you require. Maybe you could change the topic to " Where to find ARB seals"
Any way happy hunting, let us know how you go with what ever you choose.
Loose
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:45 pm
by TOJO 12-HT
yep thats right, iv got air lookers arb ones. they been awesome n id deff buy em again if it wasent for the useles after sales service.....
yeah i might jus try fix em once more (the 5th time)
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 7:58 pm
by nissanbender
I've had a Chines locker in the front of V8 Nissan comp rig with treated CVs for 3yrs now and it gets treated like s*#t and have broken axles/CVs but the locker has never failed .
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 2:59 pm
by thehanko
I would also just get the arb ones fixed again - but somewhere different - people either seem to have no trouble or lots of trouble with air lockers.
If you think the original is too unreliable why consider an inferior version? surely this point to more issues.
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 3:41 pm
by mickyd555
nissanbender wrote:I've had a Chines locker in the front of V8 Nissan comp rig with treated CVs for 3yrs now and it gets treated like s*#t and have broken axles/CVs but the locker has never failed .
which car is this?
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 7:22 pm
by TOJO 12-HT
thehanko wrote:I would also just get the arb ones fixed again - but somewhere different - people either seem to have no trouble or lots of trouble with air lockers.
yeah i recon ey
If you think the original is too unreliable why consider an inferior version? surely this point to more issues.
it was real good till it needed new bearings (not lockers fault, but 300000kms) since its been leakin on n off.... the part that gets me is arb would rather sell me a new one in stead of seals
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 7:27 am
by Madmac
I would fix the ARB, the seals are readily available, basically they are just "O" rings made out of a brown coloured material, my local mechanic never had problems sourcing them to rebuild my diffs. Any good 4x4 shop should be able to get them for you. Your local ARB guy is full of shit.
Re: AIR LOCKERS, china copys
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:12 pm
by Turbo Tonka
sounds like they are just a viton oring. handle heat a bit better without going so hard and brittle
if i had arb's i wouldnt be given up on them this easy,will be a easy fix in the end im sure mate