bj-666 said:i have arb and ected love the arb and the ected ehhh not so much. you can search for some of my posts about the ected but basicly it isn't a full locker it just pushes clutch packs together really hard, good for most but if you say your running hammers you'll prob get it to slip. mine has been back to auburn twice and i can still get it to slip.
Goatman said:Mike, if you have the money for the selectable you'll probably regret not getting it. However, if money is an issue, plenty of folks are driving around with non-selectable front lockers with nothing other than minor clicking now and then.........you'll never feel it.
There is always the possibility for problems with a selectable, either cable adjustments with the OX or air issues with the ARB. Don't know much about the Ected.
What is your comfort level for an occasional problem, verses your very slight possible annoyance with somewhat slight front end noise?
EliasJ123 said:Mike,
Your thread was TOO LONG.. I stopped reading your post after the 4th line.. :gag: lol
Anywho.. I would like to get a selectable up front too. ECTED and OX are on top of my list.
I'm going to steer away from ARB. I never ran them, but I've been on the trail with enough guys who had problems with ARB. I'm not bashing them at all. I know other guys who have run them forever without any problems..
BTW - Don't let Rick talk to you like that... :twak:
E
raneil said:For the front axle of a rig having no lockout hubs that will spend any time at all on pavement, I would say a selectable locker is mandatory. But that's just me talking.
Heed the words of SanDiegoXJ. The ARBs are positively addicting for their ability to instantly switch between truly open and truly locked. But that flexibility does come at a price. Like SanDiego, I've watched for years as nearly everyone I know that runs ARBs brags about how great they are -- usually while we're on the side of the trail waiting for them to fix the damned things again.
And now, I've become one of "them". Despite being satisfied for years with Detroit Lockers front and rear in my CJ (with lockout hubs), I took the plunge with ARBs in my XJ. For the first two years they performed flawlessly, and I have become a true believer.
But two weeks ago in Las Cruces, just before the final ledges on Cayenne Crawler, the front airline somehow got cut by the front driveshaft u-joint. Looking at the installation, you'd say it's impossible for it to get close enough, but that sure looks like what happened. In any event, there I was preparing to have a go at the toughest obstacle on the trail with just a rear locker. After several valiant attempts (and a prodigious use of the right foot), I got close, but no cigar. I finally had to take a cable. :rattle:
I now have the airline repair kit on order, and bought a spare to keep in the Jeep for next time. And i bought a spare solenoid. "Those guys" are always complaining of a bad solenoid. Whatever.
I still love my ARBs -- because MOST of the time they work fine. And when they work, they REALLY work. So next time it will be ME on the side of the trail bragging about my ARBs while I attempt to fix them...
How did I suddenly become "one of those guys"? :wierd:
mikedashg said:Pretty divided, as usual. Some say ected blows, some say ected is great. Some say go ARB, some say stay away.
Maybe I should start a poll? That might be interesting. Let's get the contenders before I do it.
Ected
OX
ARB
Full Detroit
Aussie
No-Slip
Lock-Right
Lincoln
Am missing any? They don't make the electrac anymore do they?
mikedashg said:Great response man! Thanks. Yeah, without lockout hubs, or a vacuum disconnect, I'm thinking a locker will just aid to my already crappy on-road ride. But 229 for an Aussie is still pretty hard to pass up. It's almost worth trying it out first for a year and if I don't like it, I'll have one in the for sale section.
The difference being that in the front axle, an auto locker like a lunchbox will "unlock" very easily in 2wd, so your turning radius isn't affected at all. If I understand correctly, an engaged ARB acts like a spool, while a lunchbox still allows differentiation.raneil said:Very true, but make no mistake about it: it's more than just your on-road ride that will be affected by this decision. Being able to run completely open will significantly improve your turning radius on- AND off-road. It's one of the most often-overlooked advantages of a selectable locker. With both ARBs disengaged, it's amazing how much more maneuverable my XJ is in tight spots. If I lock up both ends at the same time, it's like trying to turn the Titanic -- and it's harder on your front axle u-joints.
Daedalus454 said:The difference being that in the front axle, an auto locker like a lunchbox will "unlock" very easily in 2wd, so your turning radius isn't affected at all. If I understand correctly, an engaged ARB acts like a spool, while a lunchbox still allows differentiation.
raneil said:However as pointed out by corbinafly, this works better on the street than it does in the dirt. When you're really "working it", an automatic locker can get in a bind, and can stubbornly refuse to "unlock" until the load is relieved. At that point, your turning ability is somewhat compromised.