Locker?

[sinnaevd]

New to chevy's, can someone inform me of my options for locking the rear? ( sorry i don't know my the make of my rear axle, just looking for generic companies)

I wanted to be able to engage and disengage it as i still would like to drive this truck on the street and not eat up the tires.

[roll-bar Bob]

buy a Toyota



they do that

[sinnaevd]

lol thanks bob.

anyone have any experience with an ARB in a chevy? did it eat it up? I only want to lock the rear, and i really like the idea of the arb. i was goign to put one in the manche til i really looked at what a basketcase it is.

[VonDirt]

depends alot on your application (what your planning on doing with it) most manufactuers will just tell you what you want to hear so be careful on that.

my vote; go DETROIT

[sinnaevd]

i would like to REALLY get heavy into mud and trails, but for not i think it will mostly see Silver Lake, Morton Termianl (a mud pit but nothing extreme) and some around town driving. the arb is the only one i really researched on. does detroit engage and disengage?

BTW, is it expensive to re-gear axles?

[KILLER"B"468]

Originally Posted by sinnaevd

i would like to REALLY get heavy into mud and trails, but for not i think it will mostly see Silver Lake, Morton Termianl (a mud pit but nothing extreme) and some around town driving. the arb is the only one i really researched on. does detroit engage and disengage?

BTW, is it expensive to re-gear axles?

List for rear axle

ARB
ARB compressor to activate locker ( or other on board air)
Ring and pinion set
Master install kit
Labor to install gears and ARB

you will be close to $1,400 US. to set up a rear axle for ARB. If you went with some sort of E-locker you could take off $125 roughly.

[sinnaevd]

What's an e-locker?

I hear detroit is a pretty solid locker no? can u engage and disengage a detroit?

[KILLER"B"468]

Originally Posted by sinnaevd

What's an e-locker?

I hear detroit is a pretty solid locker no? can u engage and disengage a detroit?

A detroit is always active... non selectable

An E-locker is like an ARB, or OX instaed of air or cable actuated. It is activated electronics.

[sinnaevd]

i tihnk what i should be asking is does it eat the hell out of your tires on the highway? or will it allow the change in tire speed around corners the same as an open locker? is does it kind of drag a little bit?

[KILLER"B"468]

A detroit will allow the tires to rotate at different speeds like around a corner. All the selctable lockers are spools when they are engaged. That would make life difficult when turning a corner.

[sinnaevd]

i think i'ma go detroit, the more i read up on detroit and arb, the more i realise no one complains about detroit while SOME complain about arb. these the the first reading i've ever read about arb proiblems.

anyon ehave n e detroit complaints?

[MoneyPit86CJ7]

I have the detroit truetrac in my half ton and its pretty nice, very please with it, good road manners, but still locks when you need it. Had it offroad a few times and its engaged very promptly.

[BigBlueBurban]

unless you're looking for complete and total lockup of both rear axleshafts, go with a hi-biased limited slip in the rear end. still works offroad, won't eat your tires at all - you might even forget it's there. but if you are dead set on a locker, consider this:
Detroit is more or less (in an engaging and disengaging sense) the locker to put it in and forget about it. It'll lock up when you want, sometimes when you don't (like taking a u-turn and applying power) causing the tires to chirp. Depending on circumstances, the lockup of the unit usually causes a load clunking noise that could take some getting used to.
An ARB is also very common. and unless you have air pressure runing to the unit, acts like any other open diff. Once the airpressure is applied, it's locked until you release it again. This means don't forget to turn it off before you hit the pavement again or buhbye tires.
Electric lockers are just starting to hit mainstream, but more or less are identical to the way an ARB works except for the fact that electrical current is used to lock the unit, and not air pressure. this may be more beneficial depending on how you plan to wheel and if you think you might easily puncture an air line. However, if you also want something like onboard air on your rig, then an arb is the way to go.

more or less thats how i see it, anyone feel free to correct me.

[sinnaevd]

i think i will go detroit when the time comes, its tried tested and true. with a tight budget i'd hate to experiment, and loose out on some cash. i just really think the arb is a nifty design. i think i will run open as well for a while though until i get used to wheeling. a lift kit and big tires are all still new to me, so i'd hate to get a wh ole bunch of goodies when i don't have enough time to enjoy them all.

are heavy bumpers a great thing to invest in for recovery points?

[BigBlueBurban]

heavy - not really. strong - hell yes. all depends on how they're attached to the frame

[sinnaevd]

i will look for more help when i get back out of school...school blows....

[chevy666]

I am going to install a detroit in my rear and an OX locker in the front...nobody said anything about the ox locker and from what I gather that your looking for it should work well for you. They work kinda the same way as an ARB but it uses a cable and a lever you install in the cab somewhere to engage or disengage it...no air lines to get pulled off,no big bulky air tanks, no electric failures in deep water ect ect....! IMO an OX locker is the only way to go!

[sinnaevd]

what about price comparison? i heard arb is usually higher, but i have no real knowledge on the subject

[chevy666]

Originally Posted by sinnaevd

what about price comparison? i heard arb is usually higher, but i have no real knowledge on the subject

From what I gather an OX locker is about $850 and an ARB is about the same price for just the locker and then you need a pump, air tank and all the plumbing and fittings, on a side note though I have seen people who run them and they equip that air tank with fittings so they can fill their tires also...that would be a nice feature if you have to air down for sand or something.