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zone30



Member Since: 07 Sep 2012
Location: Gent
Posts: 669

Belgium 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 X-Tech LE Nara Bronze
Differentials
Can anyone explain me the difference between:

Standard defender diff lock
ARB air lockers
Detroit lockers
Truetrack lockers

What do use best where (front/back) and the reason why.

I find the info on the net kinde confusing.
Post #238511 25th May 2013 10:53am
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 19599

United Kingdom 
I'm by no means an expert compared to many on here but the standard diff lock is a centre diff lock. It is also mechanical. The ARB is obviously air powered and can be fitted to the front or rear diff or both. Happy to be corrected on this as I'm not perfectly sure myself.
The diff locks main purpose is to avoid one wheel losing traction and getting stuck. But it can also cause tyre damage and transmission wind up if used incorrectly. Diesel$ Live$ Matter. ⛽️🛢️👨‍🔧🧰⚙️ RED, WHITE & BOOST! 🇬🇧
Post #238517 25th May 2013 11:00am
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diesel_jim



Member Since: 13 Oct 2008
Location: hiding
Posts: 6038

United Kingdom 2006 Defender 110 Td5 SW Epsom Green
Re: Differentials
zone30 wrote:
Can anyone explain me the difference between:

Standard defender diff lock
ARB air lockers
Detroit lockers
Truetrack lockers

What do use best where (front/back) and the reason why.

I find the info on the net kinde confusing.


The standard defender difflock I would assume to mean the center difflock, which is the short stubby lever next to the main 1,2,3,4,5/6,R gearstick.
This locks the center diff, inside the transferbox, to give equal 50/50 power delivery to the front and back axle.

ARB (and Ashcroft) air lockers, are fitted into the axles, and lock each pair of wheels together. Thus helping to stop the cross-axled situations of a wheel flailing in the air stopping forward (or backward) motion.

Detroit and truetrack are similar to above, but they need no outside activation (an ARB or Ashcroft needs you to flick a switch), these two do it automatically, but don't always lock up 100%, and can cause funny road handling characteristics so I gather (not used them myself)
Post #238518 25th May 2013 11:02am
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zone30



Member Since: 07 Sep 2012
Location: Gent
Posts: 669

Belgium 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 X-Tech LE Nara Bronze
Reading all this, air lockers front an back are the best solution as you don't get unexpected locks when driving normally.

What's the difference between ARB an Ashcroft?
Post #238523 25th May 2013 11:28am
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davew



Member Since: 02 Jan 2012
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 888

England 1990 Defender 90 V8 Petrol PU Auto Rioja Red
Ashcroft are a better design, they're also cheaper Smile

ARB are good but whilst ARB seem to have taken a wrong design turn, particularly with the later versions, Ashcroft seem to have taken their years of experience selling and repairing ARB diffs and designed a more robust, more reliable version.

Even the airline connector at the diff is a much better design than the ARB, allowing the airline to stay close to the diff out of harms way rather than being exposed as it is on the ARB. I use ARB in our overland motor and Ashcroft in my competition motor due to "upgrading" the ARBs in my competition motor and moving the ARBs to the overland motor.

One thing worth watching out for if you go the ARB route is to make sure you buy it from a reputable supplier (Ashcroft, Crown Diffs, Devon 4x4 etc...). There are a number of cheap copies available that may look like genuine ARB but aren't and they fail pretty quickly if they work at all. http://www.yorkshireoffroadclub.net/
Post #238526 25th May 2013 11:49am
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zone30



Member Since: 07 Sep 2012
Location: Gent
Posts: 669

Belgium 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 X-Tech LE Nara Bronze
I have a good source - devon 4x4
Post #238561 25th May 2013 6:10pm
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willy eckerslike



Member Since: 15 Jun 2009
Location: North yorks
Posts: 1789

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 HCPU Keswick Green
And I have one I'd sell Thumbs Up Original Member Pie n Pea Club.
110 HCPU Tipper
Post #238563 25th May 2013 7:39pm
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big steve



Member Since: 24 Dec 2009
Location: hertfordshire
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United Kingdom 2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Montalcino Red
If money weren't a problem then Ashcroft lockers front and back failing that a locker in front and a Detroit type in back or even a standard diff in the front as I feel you should be able to control your front diff yourself ?

Steve 2015 2.2 tdci hardtop xs
3.2 conversion DONE 238bhp and 707nm torque and thats just the start ;-P
hybrid turbo in build -done ready to fit
ashcroft atb in transfer box
6 speed auto in build
Post #238571 25th May 2013 8:29pm
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T1G UP



Member Since: 08 Dec 2009
Location: Bath
Posts: 3101

England 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Orkney Grey
ashcroft LSD's front and back...fit and forget.

backed up by tc/abs very good combo and the cheapest

also 4 pin diffs so stronger than a lr 2 pin
Post #238584 25th May 2013 9:04pm
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zone30



Member Since: 07 Sep 2012
Location: Gent
Posts: 669

Belgium 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 X-Tech LE Nara Bronze
T1G UP wrote:
ashcroft LSD's front and back...fit and forget.

backed up by tc/abs very good combo and the cheapest

also 4 pin diffs so stronger than a lr 2 pin


Can you elaborate a bit more? LSD's are air lockers too or something else?

PS money is not a reason for me as I'd rather have the best possible setup. The car deserves it as it is an x-tech.
Not trying to sound posh here but in my opinion with the cash I dished out for this car it's silly to cheapscate on bits I add on.


Last edited by zone30 on 25th May 2013 9:58pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #238589 25th May 2013 9:23pm
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Phoenix90



Member Since: 04 Mar 2012
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 377

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
There something else Thumbs Up

Ashcroft ATB
Post #238601 25th May 2013 9:57pm
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zone30



Member Since: 07 Sep 2012
Location: Gent
Posts: 669

Belgium 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 X-Tech LE Nara Bronze
Phoenix90 wrote:
There something else Thumbs Up

Ashcroft ATB


This is very interesting indeed!
Post #238605 25th May 2013 10:29pm
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pjh



Member Since: 23 Nov 2010
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 126

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Orkney Grey
We are about to go down the Ashcroft ATB route - I'll keep you posted.

Peter Defender 11MY USW
Post #238615 25th May 2013 11:20pm
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davew



Member Since: 02 Jan 2012
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 888

England 1990 Defender 90 V8 Petrol PU Auto Rioja Red
Just bear in mind ATBs are NOT a locking diff. For off road use they give very little improvement over an open diff. Very occasionally, off road, they will make a difference but only when both tyres on the axle have similar levels of grip, as soon as one wheel slips all the power goes to that wheel just like an open diff.

I had some for a couple of years and used them for trials, in two years of trialling they helped 3 times. In every case it was on a dry surface where both front wheels were scrabbling for grip, similar vehicles with open diffs struggled by comparison.

ATBs work really well on road when you have traction on both wheels limiting wheel spin on wet tarmac, for example. That's why ATBs are popular in track cars. If you're wanting a diff for improved off road use, Torsens are a complete waste of money. If you're towing a heavy trailer on gravel/wet tarmac an ATB will help. http://www.yorkshireoffroadclub.net/
Post #238619 25th May 2013 11:41pm
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zone30



Member Since: 07 Sep 2012
Location: Gent
Posts: 669

Belgium 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 X-Tech LE Nara Bronze
Thx, wasn't clear in the description.
I want lockers as it's for offroad use. So air lockers are still the best chooise then?
Post #238648 26th May 2013 10:06am
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