Diff lockers

JimmerGray · Gate Opener Joined: 21 Feb 2013 Odometer: 6

Hi Difflock Forum,

Was wondering if u guys could guide me to the right place or maybe suggest the best way to go about this.

Am wanting to fit diff lockers to the front and rear of Ma suzuki trayback. But am not sure what is the best kit to go for i.e KAM or ARB.

Any help will be much Appreciated
Thanks

Toseland · Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2013 6:56 pm Post subject:

ARB... hands down..

why not get detroit lockers (or lockrites..), 1/4 of the price, and work just as well..

JimmerGray · Gate Opener Joined: 21 Feb 2013 Odometer: 6

What the difference? Am not really clued up on lockers.

Toseland · Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2013 8:07 pm Post subject:

one is active.. ie you switch the lock on and off.. off is just like a normal diff (ARBs KAM lockers etc are like this) until you turn it on..

KAM lockers are electronic , ARBs are compressed air operated and each has their own issues respectively.

Detroit lockers, or lockrites, are passive.. but just as effective..

its best to watch this short video, saves me talking for 2 hours about how lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL0hPEOStGk

given a direct comparison aside from price:

the "lockers" (kam/arb) provide you with better road manners, as you can physically turn them off and have it like any other normal open differential..

the "lockright" style one is always on and takes a little getting used to on the road, once you are used to it however its barely noticeable except when it unlocks with a bit of a clunk going round a corner every so often..

personally, if money was no object i would 100% have ARBs front and rear on the vit..

if not, then an LSD in the front axle, and a lockrite in the rear is more than sufficient to increase your offroad performance by a factor of 4..

xamtex · Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2013 9:02 pm Post subject:

i ran lockrights front and rear and pound for pound they cant be beaten...if you can afford kam or arbs then yes they win ...but the lockright locks just the same as the arb...you just cant unlock it on demand....for pure traction its a draw...both are equal...for drivability arb might be better but is it hundreds of pounds better???
fit power steering if you plan to lock the front.

xamtex · Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2013 9:04 pm Post subject:

if you lock the front then make sure you use free wheel front hubs on road to disconnect them.

suzukivit1 · Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2013 10:30 pm Post subject: .

i ran a lock rite in the rear and an arb in the front of my vitara both work very well but arb all the way for me, im building my vit with sas and i have arb front and rear to fit Very Happy

colin

JimmerGray · Gate Opener Joined: 21 Feb 2013 Odometer: 6

Ok thanks for all the reply guys its been very helpful. But I think I will hav to go for the ARB.

Next thing I need to know. Is it just a cause of buying the lockers and compressor or do I need to buy new shafts ect?
Plus what kind of money are they?

Thanks.

Toseland · Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 9:32 am Post subject:

ARBs (for the lockers in the axles) from devon4x4 (first site i googled) are £875 each axle

add £140 for the compact compressor, or £215 for the high performance compressor you will be looking at nearly £2000 for a full set..

whereas the lockright for the rear is around £240 complete.

i am wondering how much better the lockright looks now Laughing

Toseland · Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 9:34 am Post subject:

again i am going to give my personal opinion...

Lockrights have a good resale value.. so i would suggest you TRY the lockright in the rear axle, or in both front and rear if you have front free wheeling hubs, and see how you go, how it feels etc..

if it works for you you saved yourself £1500, and the potential for a lot of maintenance/fitting work etc etc..

if not, sell them and buy a couple of ARBs

Maltese · Gate Opener Joined: 26 Mar 2012 Odometer: 35

Hello everyone - what do you think of the KAM - do they compare with the ARBs? are they reliable?

RichardD · Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 11:45 am Post subject:

Another vote for a Detroit rear:

Had one in my Blitz4x4 and have one in my LR90 buggy. Just a note tho' - they are auto unlockers - it will allow one wheel to go slower (ie slow down) than the other but if one tries to speed up it will force both to go at the same speed. Avoid harsh acceleration on wet roundabouts!

scrunt · Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 12:10 pm Post subject:

What type of Suzuki is the Trayback & with what Axles?

Is it worth Considering changing to Toyota Axles before installing Lockers?
What short of budget are you going for at each end.
£250, £500, £750, or £900 ish?

george

RichardD · Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 1:25 pm Post subject:

Sounds like my old house; a £750 roof repair became £150,000 rebuild!

Toseland · Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 4:30 pm Post subject:

GVstu · Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 8:59 pm Post subject:

I had a lockright on the rear of my Jimny, great bit of kit to have ticking away back there I rated it very highly. ARB's although godlike are so bloody expensive getting a set, fitting and fettling it makes me wince.

The only time lockrights are a bother is when you're trying to use the monster as a daily.

Lessons were learned! Twisted Evil

suzukivit1 · Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 10:45 pm Post subject: ,

Toseland · Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 10:46 pm Post subject:

he now lives in the millenium stadium =D

suzukivit1 · Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 10:50 pm Post subject: ,

Toseland · Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 11:03 pm Post subject:

i have heard mixed things about KAM... nothing of note, but either not locking or not unlocking has cropped up..

my main concern is that it is an electrically operated system, which, given the location of the differential etc etc etc, doesnt lend itself well to offroading.. that would be my only real concern..

The Insider · Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 1:18 pm Post subject:

Do KAM actually make a locker for the Suki?, assuming that they do, do you have to modify the axle casings as you would on their LR locker?

Just a thought.

Insider

rockwatt · Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 2:00 pm Post subject:

rockwatt · Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 2:06 pm Post subject: