So are ARB producing cheaper stuff now to save some $$$

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

So would this be correct or is some one talking pub talk and has no idea ????

http://www.offroad80s.com/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=7949

Comment by this person...nicko_sunshine about 4th post down

The bloke at opposite lock was also telling me this but I thought maybe was just a sales pitch to get me to buy an Elocker........Sounds like he may have been correct in his comments.....????? Cheers Steve

[williade Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close williade]

I wasn't aware that ARB had changed the design but I doubt any reduction in strength of the air locker will affect Prado drivers with their 32" tyres. Have ARB officially confirmed that there has been a change in the design?

As far as I'm concerned as long as the ARB diff centre remains stronger than the axle shafts and the crown-wheel/pinion gear, it wont matter even if there has been a reduction in strength.

[Pradod Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Pradod]

I was talking to a guy that works in store that sells ARB products a while ago, he had just been over to the factory. Apparently ARB were making more parts in-house in order to get better quality.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Mate I wouldnt know a good one from a bad one, would have no idea what i was looking at only what I was told today, I also rang a diff specialist today to see about the cost of fitting a locker for me (use to use him when I worked for toyota) he said what locker, I told him Im leaning towards an Elocker he said smart move he has fitted shit loads of air lockers over the years BUT the ones he has been fitting recently are coming back with issues never seen before ?? He said even two years on he has had them come back with bolts coming undone, now he's a specialist who has been doing this over 20 years he said he locktites them in and tightens them up to 100nm (recomended 70) and still coming undone, also issues with some bearing ?? didnt go into detail he was busy just told me to go Elocker, same as I was told from OL ????? As I said have no idea about them except to me either one seems to work extremely well and really change the capabilities of the vehicle........Cheers Steve

[williade Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close williade]

Considering the huge number of Air lockers sold compared to E-lockers I wonder how many air lockers have to develop faults for people to believe there is a serious problem. The failure rate of E-lockers may indeed be lower (I don't have the stats for either Air locker or E-locker failure rates) but I doubt ARB would be sitting still if there was a bad batch or an underlying problem in the design or the quality of the materials.

In any case I'm happy to be a guinea pig and continue using ARB lockers.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Have no idea on stats but must say the elocker has been around in the states for a long time, I dont even know where the air locker is made ?? I think its the states as well ?? They do mention the use of elockers in big trucks and mining vehicles as well. Maybe im been the guinea pig with it in the prado lol ?? But based on the simplicity of it im going to go the Elocker. i suppose time will tell. Im going to save any bits they remove from the diff so if I have any major issues I can put it back to normal, Will just have to keep them oiled up so they dont go rusty.........Cheers steve

[williade Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close williade]

Steve, Air lockers are made in Melbourne.

I don't think E-lockers have a rust problem. You might be thinking of the Factory Toyota lockers used on the 80 series and overseas 90 series Prados.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Sorry Declan might not have explained myself properly. Im am going to keep the original parts from the diff they pull out and keep some oil on them so they dont rust over time incase I ever need them again for what ever reason........cheers steve

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

I wasn't aware that ARB had changed the design but I doubt any reduction in strength of the air locker will affect Prado drivers with their 32" tyres. Have ARB officially confirmed that there has been a change in the design?

As far as I'm concerned as long as the ARB diff centre remains stronger than the axle shafts and the crown-wheel/pinion gear, it wont matter even if there has been a reduction in strength.

Yeah it's in their magazine they put out.

They've been changing over to new design for a few years now.

Gone from 3 piece to 2 piece I think?

Apparently stronger.

[Shan Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Shan]

Yeah it's in their magazine they put out.

They've been changing over to new design for a few years now.

Gone from 3 piece to 2 piece I think?

Apparently stronger.

x 2 for that !!!!!
According to one of the ARB engineers The main improvement of the 2 piece design is smoother gear meshing !!

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

in relation to the thread title , nothing would surprise me , everything that used to have a name for quality is now usually shite ( generalising ) that might also explain how just recently ARB shares were listed as the best performing shares on the aus stock exchange .