Offroad-Express

Hi all,

I know that after I have done the front and rear bumpers, snorkel and fitted tow hooks I want to upgrade the diff.

I was just wondering what is the best option and what are the main pro's and con's of each. I know with a locker that if its on in the wrong place it can screw the car round and make you roll or do things you don't want it to do.

But how well does a LSD work off road? or would it just be best to get a locker? also my mate was saying that lockers are illegal on the road, but I thought it was just welded diffs that were illegal. I think he is just blowing smoke as usual though.

I did try searching but couldn't find what i was looking for exactly. sorry for the noobish questions too. I just want to make sure.

Cheers
Lincoln

locker over lsd any day.

Just took my 40 thru for a cert, told the certifier that it had an auto locker an he said nothin about it at all.
Theyre a bit noisey when they lock an unlock but ya cant beat havin them when ya got 2 opposite wheels off the ground

depends how ya drive and whether up front or on the rear..

personally, lockers all the way..

Have you thought about an Eaton Truetrac? It's an LSD but unlike the factory Toyota ones they don't use clutch packs so never wear out or change their performance. I'm keen to get one in the rear of my Surf as I can't be bothered with an autolocker in a daily driver.

Its gonna be in the rear only for now, and yea i was thinking just stick to a locker.

another question though, how does a auto locker work?

Cheers
Lincoln

What oil do you use in a auto locker Diff??

locker locker locker

std open diff oil 80 90

but you would be better off to save up/or just get a seletable locker.

The difference between a auto locker and selectable locker is like a locker and lsd, selectable is way better

ARB ARB ARB

well it definantly look like I'm going for a locker, now to save some more once I get my welder this weekend, and I get paid the $1300 my boss owes me. I should be sweet then.

SO selectable is best? what brand are better? ARB?

Cheers
Lincoln

mudlva wrote::D ARB ARB ARB

AS SAID ABOVE

There are chinese copies coming into the country now but they are only relatively new on the market so not sure if they are good or bad. I was going to put a pair in my prado but was warned off and will continue to save for the ARB units.

Maybe in a few more years they will be as good as the ARB ones but for now

Of course others may say they are fine and they have worked out the bugs. And maybe they will be fine for your budget/usage.

Heath

mudlva wrote:

mudlva wrote::D ARB ARB ARB

AS SAID ABOVE

Yea i figured that would be the way to go, best to go with someone reputable i guess. Better make a decent effort to save for a change.

Lincoln

lincooln wrote:

mudlva wrote:

mudlva wrote::D ARB ARB ARB

AS SAID ABOVE

Yea i figured that would be the way to go, best to go with someone reputable i guess. Better make a decent effort to save for a change.

Lincoln

if your tempted to get a chinese one you may as well throw another 500 bucks in the kitty and get an ARB(s)

Heath wrote:There are chinese copies coming into the country now but they are only relatively new on the market so not sure if they are good or bad. I was going to put a pair in my prado but was warned off and will continue to save for the ARB units.


Heath

aren't the ARB lockers now made in China anyway..............?
The only difference would be the quality control of the build and the reputation to honour a warranty.

Ralfie wrote:

Heath wrote:There are chinese copies coming into the country now but they are only relatively new on the market so not sure if they are good or bad. I was going to put a pair in my prado but was warned off and will continue to save for the ARB units.


Heath

aren't the ARB lockers now made in China anyway..............?
The only difference would be the quality control of the build and the reputation to honour a warranty.

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ARB Lockers are made in Aussie

There is an ARB ad on youtube that is (funnily enough) a pretty good ad for the imitations. First, they show hte differences in side gears -- the ARB ones look nicer, but the copy's ones look identical to factory zuk ones.

They then test an ARB and a copy locker to destruction. The ARB locker doesn't break -- the axle fails. The copy locker does break. OK, so ARB must be better.... or not. If you look at the breaking load of each, there is well under 10% difference. Uisng a sample size of one, there is no way they can say that the ARB locker is stronger at all -- and if it is actually stronger on average by this pitiful amount, who cares?

It's probably going to come down to the price difference -- there have been some Chinese ones on trademe recently going as cheap as ~$700. At that price, the very slight risk that it'll break is well worth it IMO. I very much doubt you'd have a problem unless you are running very large tires or very high horsepower (for a zuk). At the same time, there is someone trying to get $1450 for the same chinese locker on TM -- you can get an ARB one in from the states cheaper than that (including shipping).

Yeas I saw some lockers on trade me recently. Worst thing was they were front lockers, not rear. so no good for me really, dont need front for a while.

also I think hedgeboar is right. If they are almost as strong as the ARB why not go for the cheaper one then? Makes sense to me. Guess I know what I am doing now.

Lincoln

HedgeBoar wrote:There is an ARB ad on youtube that is (funnily enough) a pretty good ad for the imitations. First, they show hte differences in side gears -- the ARB ones look nicer, but the copy's ones look identical to factory zuk ones.

They then test an ARB and a copy locker to destruction. The ARB locker doesn't break -- the axle fails. The copy locker does break. OK, so ARB must be better.... or not. If you look at the breaking load of each, there is well under 10% difference. Uisng a sample size of one, there is no way they can say that the ARB locker is stronger at all -- and if it is actually stronger on average by this pitiful amount, who cares?

It's probably going to come down to the price difference -- there have been some Chinese ones on trademe recently going as cheap as ~$700. At that price, the very slight risk that it'll break is well worth it IMO. I very much doubt you'd have a problem unless you are running very large tires or very high horsepower (for a zuk). At the same time, there is someone trying to get $1450 for the same chinese locker on TM -- you can get an ARB one in from the states cheaper than that (including shipping).

Safari front, Terrano rear went for $300

lincooln wrote: Worst thing was they were front lockers, not rear. so no good for me really, dont need front for a while.

Whys that bad? BEst tell us what vehicle its for. If its IFS, get the front!!!

Its a 93 Vitara, so yea it has IFS. Still would prefer rear first, then a front.

Heath wrote:There are chinese copies coming into the country now but they are only relatively new on the market so not sure if they are good or bad. I was going to put a pair in my prado but was warned off and will continue to save for the ARB units.

Maybe in a few more years they will be as good as the ARB ones but for now

Of course others may say they are fine and they have worked out the bugs. And maybe they will be fine for your budget/usage.

Heath

I got a chiness locker...givin it heaps too. I worry more when it's unlocked as the spider gears are the weak link. Splines are a bit worn too. But in keeping with my own thoughts of the whole truck.....go till it blows
Then I'll fix it

sibainmud wrote:

Heath wrote:There are chinese copies coming into the country now but they are only relatively new on the market so not sure if they are good or bad. I was going to put a pair in my prado but was warned off and will continue to save for the ARB units.

Maybe in a few more years they will be as good as the ARB ones but for now

Of course others may say they are fine and they have worked out the bugs. And maybe they will be fine for your budget/usage.

Heath

I got a chiness locker...givin it heaps too. I worry more when it's unlocked as the spider gears are the weak link. Splines are a bit worn too. But in keeping with my own thoughts of the whole truck.....go till it blows
Then I'll fix it

How much was yours simon?

lincooln wrote:

sibainmud wrote:

Heath wrote:There are chinese copies coming into the country now but they are only relatively new on the market so not sure if they are good or bad. I was going to put a pair in my prado but was warned off and will continue to save for the ARB units.

Maybe in a few more years they will be as good as the ARB ones but for now

Of course others may say they are fine and they have worked out the bugs. And maybe they will be fine for your budget/usage.

Heath

I got a chiness locker...givin it heaps too. I worry more when it's unlocked as the spider gears are the weak link. Splines are a bit worn too. But in keeping with my own thoughts of the whole truck.....go till it blows
Then I'll fix it

How much was yours simon?

I just got a quote from a guy in china, it seems to be the off-road brand, less than $600 NZD inc compressor, delivered to a china address. There's lots of options to bring them into NZ yourself.
I'm actually picking one up direct in China so the bonus for me is that I can check it before handing over any $$,
Advantage of getting them in NZ is, warranty, No potential customs tax, NZ company to deal with.
Disadvantage - $1450 locker + $100 for compressor (trade me), same thing but someone else has done the hard yards.


Is someone wants the details, send me a PM with your email and will forward you the stuff I have.

Trade Me - http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 158847.htm

I've also been inquiring about the lockers in china.... Is this the company you've been talking to: http://www.chinasoong.com ? They've quoted US$420 with MOQ of 5 or US$450 for less.

I have no idea what the best way to get them to NZ would be -- any suggestions?

Anyone in for a group buy? I'd be keen for one or two....

HedgeBoar wrote:I've also been inquiring about the lockers in china.... Is this the company you've been talking to: http://www.chinasoong.com ? They've quoted US$420 with MOQ of 5 or US$450 for less.

I have no idea what the best way to get them to NZ would be -- any suggestions?

Anyone in for a group buy? I'd be keen for one or two....

As far as I am aware the best way is to get it to a consolidators, they then pack it in a container with all sorts of other crap and then you get it. and there is no duty on them when they come in either.

Cheers
Lincoln

lincooln wrote:

HedgeBoar wrote:I've also been inquiring about the lockers in china.... Is this the company you've been talking to: http://www.chinasoong.com ? They've quoted US$420 with MOQ of 5 or US$450 for less.

I have no idea what the best way to get them to NZ would be -- any suggestions?

Anyone in for a group buy? I'd be keen for one or two....

As far as I am aware the best way is to get it to a consolidators, they then pack it in a container with all sorts of other crap and then you get it. and there is no duty on them when they come in either.

Cheers

Lincoln

The guy who I was talking (email) to had priced only one.
I'd be a bit cautious doing a group buy, you might get stung with all sorts of taxes, (tax, duty, various customs fees, inspection, spraying, maybe look at bulk buy but individual freight, then its just personal effects, even better if it's not in the original packaging

Don't get me wrong, I love importing my own stuff, I've already sent 60kgs of truck stuff back to NZ (from Korea)
As lincoln said above, consolidators is the way to go, I just googled freight brokers and clicked away.
I hate bidding against wreckers on Trade Me so always stoked when I get I get some cheap Chinese headlights (parts)
Anyway, will be in China this week and should have an update next week.

The next Aussie 4wd mag (148) has a comparison of all the brands, so might be interesting...