Diff Locks

[Albannach]

Who makes the best Diff Locks for a surf and how much do they cost?

[RodLeach]

ARB airlocker would probably be high on most peoples list.

Cost im unsure of to be honest mate with the current change in exchange rates.

But your looking at around £500 for one of those + any costs for a compressor etc so it will work.



EDIT:

http://www.marlincrawler.com/differe...arb-air-locker

$800 odd is around £500... so that plus postage which isn't cheap from those guys plus taxes.

[BUSHWHACKER]

Who makes the best Diff Locks for a surf and how much do they cost?

Milners sell Detroit lockers for around 350 quid.
ARB air powered lockers are nearer 500 quid, but you do get everything needed to fit it including a little compressor and an illuminated switch for the dash. But I think they're a bit OTT for a daily driver.

The Detoit locker, or 'soft' locker, is much better value IMO, as it's a fit and forget part. It's an LSD but performs almost like a locker as it applies 100% torque to both rear wheels in a straight line but acts like an open diff when cornering on the road and is almost silent in operation.

[RodLeach]

Didn't know the ARB came with a compressor etc.


Either way theres a bit involved in fitting the units.

the ARB needs a hole drilled in the diff housing aswell as air lines ran from diff to compressor.

But either will need a complete rebuild of a diff as the crown wheel is removed. Assuming it all goes back an remains at the stock settings its fine but even 1mm out will cause premature failure an you'll need to replace the gears.

So if your not happy fitting yourself it can cost a few hundred... dependant on where you go. At least you can post a diff...

[BUSHWHACKER]

http://www.motivegear.com/MotiveWeb/...etroitinfo.htm

[Albannach]

I'm trying to justify, in my head, spending up to £5k on a Land Cruiser. Even going for ARB lockers, a TJM winch and bumper and a V8 transplant, I'd still have change from £2,500?

Is the LC worth it?

[wishbone]

Depends what you want the vehicle for. If you want to go on hardcore expeditions or fully loaded camping / towing trips etc then go for the expense of the LC. If you just want an off road toy then make the most of the Surfs value for money. ie: completely kill your toy, buy another one for ~£1000 and transfer all your bolted on extras over to the new one.

Just my opinion,
Rob.

[RodLeach]

I'm trying to justify, in my head, spending up to £5k on a Land Cruiser. Even going for ARB lockers, a TJM winch and bumper and a V8 transplant, I'd still have change from £2,500?

Is the LC worth it?

Tough one mate.


Off road its going to be almost even.

If you have a locked surf then when with the limit of IFS it should still perform pretty damn well.

If you fitted just one locker in the front then you could save a few bob.. How often are you going to be in a situation where you need both axles locked.. Its a bit more 'challenge' stuff.

If your more then happy with the surf an feel ok with splashing out on it then i'd probably go the surf route.

I think a 2nd gen surf is prettier then a LC even if it is a bit more cramped.

[BUSHWHACKER]

Here's another version....http://www.jegs.com/p/Powertrax/745940/10002/-1

Couldn't remember the name earlier. Can be fitted in an hour apparently without specialist tools.

Click on the demo video to see it in action.

[wishbone]

Might as well add Aussie lockers to the mix as that covers the big three (non switchable lockers)

Rob.

[yoshie]

Andy theres no need to spend 5k to get a good cruiser look at the one Niall was selling in scottishmud that was a lovely truck and for 2k. Even the one Mary was selling for 2k ono was a good un, didn't have the leather that Niall's did but was still nice. Geo paid £600 for TGM lift spings and shocks 500 for BFG muds and 600 I think for the winch bumper and that truck looks better than any that's has been on eblag for a long time. He only paid 2.1k for that one 6 months ago. He did have to travel south to get it thou.
Have a good look at Geos and remember all in on brand new wheels best of tyres and best of suspension that was only 4k.
If you can live with the 16mpg they are fantastic trucks. If you do end up with a petrol one I think Geo has an LPG kit sitting no use to him as his is the 4.2D. O and are you coming to the clog at the end of the month?

[Guest]

A UK spec cruiser is a lot of truck for the money, shouldn't need to pay more than 3.5K for a good 12V one which comes with Front and Rear lockers. However it is a big truck and will not always follow a Surf due to the size. However given sufficent space, there is not much that will beat an LC. Apart from the long rear overhang it will go anywhere a Lamerover 90 will go and straight out of the box. The articulation even without modification is massive, the transmission and axles are pretty much unbreakable and the Diesel engine is probably the best engine that Toyota ever built.

All depends on what you want from your truck. The Surf is probably a better greenlaning machine due to the size, however for hardcore and long distance the LC 80 series is probably the best vehicle in the world.

One other thing though, not all diff locks are equal. The ARB units are probably the best in the world for controllability, they switch in and out almost instantaneously.

As has been said the Detroit Locker is a great fit and forget unit and probably will fit most needs for a locker, plus they are built out of old iron girders and you would have to be a complete Ba**ard to you truck to break one.

[steve s]

my surf has an lsd is that rare. or are the factory ones naf

[lord lucan]

no its not rare about 25% of surfs have lsd, its just the luck of the draw if you buy a surf with one, never heard of a locker for a surf front diff, but there are some good lockers for the rear such as positrack

[yoshie]

For those still shoping for a surf and are interested.

3.0ltr vin plate showing G8295 is an LSD. G8294 is an open diff.
2.4 its G8145 for LSD. G8144 open diff.