Eaton e locker vs. ARB air locker

I am contemplating over a front locker. The mod germ really got the better of me
Which one is more reliable, e locker or air locker? Anyone here with a front locker?

 

It's on my long-term roadmap, especially when I get around to re-gearing. There are a lot of references on YouTube around this topic, but this is my favorite one, especially since these folks are 4Runner owners. They also have a lot of great information about the way our other off-road systems work. I'm leaning toward air locker for reasons they mention, but eLocker would be a lot easier to install I imagine.

 

Wow nobody has a front locker installed here

 

Most don’t need it. I have heard of air leaking issues with the ARB.

 

I have ARB front and rear. My LE has no lockers off the lot, but since I re-geared to 4.88, adding lockers at the same time made sense.

The trick with ARB is in the installation. I haven’t seen any issues with them that couldn’t be traced back to a botched install.

Conclusion? Get a built 3rd member from a reputable company. I’ve first hand experience with ECGS and fully trust their work and have confidence in their commitment to make things right in the event of an issue. They do Toyota gears and ARB installs day in and out. With that kind of experience you get a higher degree of confidence in the work.

So yes, ARB is a solid locker.

 

I actually had to use my air air locker in my Tacoma for the first time today (4Runner has the factory locker) I got the arb air locker two years ago, I would cycle it about once a month as recommended by arb and luckily it worked flawlessly, that being said I heard it can leak so if it does I’ll switch it to an Eaton electric locker

 

Is ECGS in WA?

 

Louisburg, North Carolina

 

I finally swapped in an ARB in the front of my Jeep (removed a limited slip). Needless to say the difference was night and day. I resisted for a long time because I too heard stories of air leaks. However, these seem to be attributed to installation problems. I had a reputable shop install mine and they used the heavy duty line three plus years ago and it's worked flawlessly since. I regret not having gone to an ARB much sooner! There's a YouTube video somewhere that compares the strength of various manufactures and ARB comes out on top.

 

Used to live about 40 miles away from Ecgs, Top notch group up there. Pretty much can do it all.

https://eastcoastgearsupply.com/

 

I was thinking about Eton e-locker as it's a simple trouble free setup.

Planning to do my own wiring. My plan is to power the elocker switch only when my after market front camera is on. So if;
- front camera switch on + elocker switch on = elocker has power
- front camera switch off + elocker switch on = elocker has no power

Doing this I have very less chance running elocker by accident.

Known problems-
When I checked few years back the shop said if I roll back with elocker and go forward it might get unlocked and have to turn off and back on to re-engage. Not sure if this problem was corrected.

Cost-
Around 2020 the total cost was around 1500. So to me it make sense as it's for just in case type of need. I may never use as I don't do any hard trails. Maybe useful for my favorite winter wheeling.

Haven't seen a proper trail for a 1 YEAR now...!! F#%%$@^...!!! Maybe next year mom will let me and elder kiddo hit some trails, while mom take the little one go to the park.

 

I’m sure there’s others, but here is a good ARB explanation from YouTube
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vdCxyQgO6PY

 

I added ARB front and rear to my SR5. I haven't used to the front except exercising it. The install is beyond the average home garage tinkerer. In a way I wish I would have gone with the prebuilt third member so I could easily swap back to stock if I ever felt the front locker would a problem. Doing so also is big step toward lower gears. My only reservation about the front locker is the possibility that the locker could be engaged by a curious driver while the vehicle is moving and not in 4WD. Locking would cause the front carrier and drive shaft to be suddenly brought up to speed with potentially negative results. Some sort of electrical interlock that would only allow front locker after 4WD is fully engaged would be smart.
I bought a complete HD rear axle for my Jeep from ECGS. I am 100% satisfied with purchase. Well made, quiet, brand new, heavy duty.

 

No experience with the Eaton E-locker so can't comment on it. But I had ARBs installed in front and rear axles in my van 14 years ago - and I use them regularly. Had no problems whatsoever.