ARB  AIR LOCKER LOCKING DIFFERENTIALS

A common misconception suggests that a 4x4 and traction go hand in hand… you can’t have one without the other. The truth, however, is that most 4x4 vehicles send power to the wheels with the least amount of traction once difficult terrain is encountered. The problem is simple – when one (or more) of your vehicle’s wheels loses traction, your highway minded factory differential directs all of your vehicle’s power to those spinning wheels. On road, the standard "open" differential allows each of your wheels to turn independently thus eliminating any binding during turns. Off road, this becomes a major burden as engine power will take the path of least resistance, which occurs at the wheels with little or no traction.

ARB has been challenging conventional thinking on off road equipment designs for over 30 years, and the ARB Air Locker has been a success from the very beginning. Created to provide 100% traction on demand, without sacrificing any of your vehicle’s highway driving performance, ARB Air Lockers employ a 12 volt air compressor designed to activate (and deactivate) a solid and durable locking mechanism inside the differential. This gives you the traction you need, when you need it, all at the flick of a switch, all within the safety and comfort of the driver’s seat.

The advantage of the ARB Air Locker lies in the pneumatically operated locking system inside the differential. When activated, the Air Locker prevents the differential gears from rotating and therefore prevents the axle shafts from turning independently of each other. With both wheels tied directly to the rotation of the ring gear the vehicle maintains maximum possible traction at all times. When unlocked, it operates just like conventional "open" differentials.

In addition to providing outright improvements to a 4x4’s off road capabilities, the Air Locker offers significant environmental benefits. When approaching difficult terrain, less reliance is put on momentum. An Air Locker equipped truck can be driven in a slower, safer and more controlled manner as a result of vastly improved traction. This style of driving greatly reduces the likelihood of incurring vehicle damage and lessens the environmental impact as well.

Installation should be performed by a qualified differential technician, although no special tools or skills are required apart from those necessary for fitting a standard differential.