On Topic Air locker function
- Thread starter dezerts10
- Start date
landshark
Well-Known Member
Yes, an air locker requires constant air pressure to keep the engagement active. No air - open diff. Thus requiring a compressor, and even better to include an air tank and the possibility of other uses like inflating tires or blowing out an air filter or blowing up a bed or boat or your girl friend - if thats your thing.
partybarge_pilot
Well-Known Member
OX locker, mechanically activated.
dezerts10
BANG!! BANG!!
Link Brian? I am putting a 9” in my 1996 4runner and converting it to leaf spring. Kind of a camping rig, ocotillo wells
Family 4x4 etc
partybarge_pilot
Well-Known Member
jeff
Moderator
An ARB Air Locker that's functioning properly (not leaking) only requires a small volume of air to engage and to stay engaged. Unless it's got a bad leak the compressor should not need to run much at all. You'll only be needing a locked differential while the 4Runner is being driven so even if the compressor comes on once or twice a day it won't be very noticeable. Somewhere around 90 to 100 PSI seems to be the sweet spot so a small tank and compressor that produces sufficient PSI should provide an ARB with plenty of air and not cycle very frequently.
Aloha
Aloha
landshark
Well-Known Member
Very true, if there are no leaks and you have just a compressor it doesn’t run for long. The new dual arb compressors aren’t too loud and you can mount them under the truck and away from the front. Also they do a pretty good job filling up tires and stuff on their own with no tank.
dezerts10
BANG!! BANG!!
Ugh they are so expensive though just for the diff... plus a compressor. I wouldn’t mind an arb I just gotta decided if u want to fork out the money. The compressor and tank would be in the trunk area of the 4Runner probably.
dezerts10
BANG!! BANG!!
If I get a compressor I’d want to be able to air up tires too. I will have an on board tank as well since I have one. Would the smaller compressor still be out of the question if linked to a tank?
landshark
Well-Known Member
Depending on how much patience you have you will probably want a tank. Tanks are cheap and you have plenty of options of mounting somewhere on the 4runner. I know the dual ARB compressors (yes those are the expensive ones) can fill up tires no problem and they are faster than my 100% duty cycle VIAIR with a 5 gallon tank, although my compressor is about 8 years old... There are other options out there too, look at the CFM's that the compressor pushes out and the duty cycle along with the amperage - the tank is nice because you can build up a reserve of air to fill up tires quicker, but again if you have the patience then you don't have to have a tank just a decent compressor.
I would do a search on pirate4x4.com as there a million threads over there on this very thing.
I would do a search on pirate4x4.com as there a million threads over there on this very thing.
If you get a big ARB then yes you can use it for lockers and tires as mentioned above. If you get another brand then you have to have a tank with regulator to keep the tank at 90-100psi. More stuff to go wrong. Lots of guys go that way and suffer because of crappy regulators. The big compressor is way overkill for the lockers which is why ARB sells the small one.
I have a Viair with big tank for tires and the small ARB for the lockers. Like I said the small ARB came with the lockers. On my other rig I have a 20# CO2 for tires and the small ARB compressor for the lockers. I am happy with both rigs.
I have a Viair with big tank for tires and the small ARB for the lockers. Like I said the small ARB came with the lockers. On my other rig I have a 20# CO2 for tires and the small ARB compressor for the lockers. I am happy with both rigs.