Which Rear diff lsd/locker

[northernchris]

I am buying a new diff for my 300TDI 90 tomorrow,what would you go for?The truck is for everyday use aswell as trails and whinch comp!!! I know the pro and cons of them all just wanted some feed back on the ones you have fitted to your own trucks before i go and do the deed.

Chris

[SiWhite]

I fitted an ARB Locker to mine.

Very easy to do, following the excellent instructions from ARB and from D90.com

I did everything apart from cutting the thread, which requires a specialist tapered tap, and pressing on the bearings to the ARB diff centre. The former was done by Frog's Island in about a minute (and no charge!) and the latter by a garage which cost a fiver.

Extremely good product, very well made and just about anywhere can get parts for them should they be required.

Only downside is that you need a compressor to activate.

The other awesome thing about an ARB is the fantastic 'Pssssshhhh' you get when the exhaust port dumps the compressed air when the locker is switched off. Great!

[northernchris]

I fitted an ARB Locker to mine.

Very easy to do, following the excellent instructions from ARB and from D90.com

I did everything apart from cutting the thread, which requires a specialist tapered tap, and pressing on the bearings to the ARB diff centre. The former was done by Frog's Island in about a minute (and no charge!) and the latter by a garage which cost a fiver.

Extremely good product, very well made and just about anywhere can get parts for them should they be required.

Only downside is that you need a compressor to activate.

The other awesome thing about an ARB is the fantastic 'Pssssshhhh' you get when the exhaust port dumps the compressed air when the locker is switched off. Great!

Any one else got an opinion on which is best?

[honitonhobbit]

The best is probably KAM - have fun even trying to talk to them!

I like the ARB/TJM stuff but it has drawbacks as well as benefits, neither of which I will go into here because someone will get prissy!

Maxi drive is cool but sooooo expensive!

I like LSDs - I like the fit and forget aspect and even though they are not quiet as good as full lockers in some situations they are available all the time. Having said that though I don't like the harshness of the Detroit which is why I have a truetrac fited in the rear axle. It does the job very well with very few bad habits and it cost next to nothing, it's a doddle to fit and can be used on and off road. All in all it suites the general purpose use of my vehicle.

[nas90]

I am buying a new diff for my 300TDI 90 tomorrow,what would you go for?The truck is for everyday use aswell as trails and whinch comp!!! I know the pro and cons of them all just wanted some feed back on the ones you have fitted to your own trucks before i go and do the deed.

Chris

What you have written is "buying a new diff" but if you mean "diff locker" then I would recommend KAM lockers. I have had KAM lockers fitted to the NAS since 1998 and apart from half shaft and CV breakages the rest of the kit has performed without any problems. The breakages were 100% my fault, not the LR, not KAM but 100% red mist!

The advantage with KAM is the inclusion in the kit of higher strength half shafts, the downside is some metal bashing is needed. My set-up is air operated but the latest offering from KAM has a 12v solenoid fitted inside the axle casing making the set-up so much simpler and simple = reliable.

KAM are also introducing LSD set-up, suggest you contact Kevin @ KAM Differentials

[northernchris]

NAS 90

Sorry about the wording DID,NT realise i was going to get a picky fool trying to be funny!!!!!!!!! I was just testing the water regarding who used what and what for,i know excatly how they work mate transmissions is my bag,i only did the WRC with subaru as a Gearbox Tech for several years!!!!!!!!

SiWhite Hobit

I was going to go for the arb set up,i thought i might get it from ashcrofts.

Edited January 3, 2006 by northernchris

[nas90]

The best is probably KAM - have fun even trying to talk to them!

My company manufacture parts for Kevin (KAM) we seem to get in touch fairly frequently!

Richard Tracey is now part of the KAM team so give them a ring.

[Petergg]

I was going to go for the arb set up,i thought i might get it from ashcrofts.

I have a Jack Mcnamara in rear and having Ashcrofts do a ARB for me at the moment for front, The Jack mac was a lot dearer but I think that they are better built. But I understand that ARB have done some mods recently.

As I won't be use front that much have gone for ARB, I have an ARB compressor fitted which will do both.

Peter

Edited January 3, 2006 by Petergg

[Hybrid_From_Hell]

ARB

No problem with actaully getting the phone / e-mauil ansdered / after sales service / spares or help

Plus a dmaned fine piece of kit

Nige

[honitonhobbit]

Richard at Mill Services is selling KAM now.

Chris for the cost of the compressor and the diff unit you can have a KAM unit. It won't break. You will get ALL the bits for the whole axle, from half shafts to bearings.

If you know transmissions a KAM is the ARB what Propshaft Clinic DC joints are to Scrapiron DC joints or a Scooby is to my old MR2. Why do you think every military santana now has a KAM unit fitted in it's rear?

[simonr]

Sorry about the wording DID,NT realise i was going to get a picky fool trying to be funny!!!!!!!!! I was just testing the water regarding who used what and what for,i know excatly how they work mate transmissions is my bag,i only did the WRC with subaru as a Gearbox Tech for several years!!!!!!!!

Be nice to dave - he's my friend & was only trying to help!

Not keen on the Kam electric system - mostly because of it's lack of simplicity and needing an electronic kicker to spike the solenoid to give it enough oomph to engage/disengage. It may well prove itself in action though.

I used to run a rear detroit - and thought it was brilliant. Then I had the daft idea of fitting fiddle brakes (which I still have not got round to doing) and replaced it with another ARB.

I would say, if you don't want fiddle brakes a detroit is a bloody good option. People complain about it doing the wrong thing sometimes - and it does, but it does the right thing more often - same arguement applies to auto-boxes. (which I also have and love!)

The ARB is more trouble to fit, plumb and supply with air - but does offer more flexibility.

I don't think there is much to call it between the three options in use though.

Si

[Bush65]

IMHO Jack MacNamara make the best locker.

Maxi-drive and MacNamara are both better than ARB. Maxi-drive are a little slow to disengage (an issue when used in the front), which is why MacNamara are best.

MacNamara lockers are now relabled by TJM (as Pro locker from memory).

[white90]

KAM

KAM Diff

all down to you really Chris

ARB's for me.

Macnamara have a superb reputation and the price includes the complete diff housing etc

Maxi/Kam both require axle case modifications with actuators required.

for ease and simplicity ARB was my choice.

[Michele]

ARB

No problem with actaully getting the phone / e-mauil ansdered / after sales service / spares or help

Nige

Ditto.

I had a full spare service from ARBUSA for free!

(plus some Kittygrip service also for free...ta Nige...)

ARB for me as well,although I never had so many different lockers in my whole life so I couldn't say which is really the best,honest

Also everything is "in" the diff (minus the airline of course,which is cheap and easy to fix should you rip it off),unlike MD locker i.e. which needs an actuator to be fitted to the axle casing...more work...

Just my point...

[Petergg]

To fit the KAM diff do you have to remove the diff pan and do a lot of fiddly welding? So if you have a breakdown can you just refit a std diff?

You can but an ARB from Ashcroft or D4x4 ready to fit exchange diff or outright buy.

Peter

[Jon White]

Historically spares availability with the KAM stuff has been a problem. A mate has the older style KAM lockers in his trialler and spares are completely unavailable for them. He's had to have parts made in order to repair them.

This may be less of a problem with the newer units however. Equally though I've had it with regards to the KAM shafts where you want a spare, they're out of stock, and will remain out of stock until he gets enough advance orders to commision another batch. Not much help when you've got a truck with a busted shaft!

I'm also not keen on the KAM kit due to the huge amount of hacking that has to be done to the axle casing - you would have to take the axle tube right off the vehicle in order to fit it in IMHO. I'm also not keen on the plastic diff pans supplied with the kit.

The advantage with the ARB unit is that its all contained within the diff itself, making it much easier to simply swap the diffs out if you want to swap the lockers to a different vehicle in the future. With the KAM kit you have to swap the entire axle.

I'm running ARB's front and rear with KAM shafts in the rear.

Jon

[Bush65]

KAM

KAM Diff

all down to you really Chris

ARB's for me.

Macnamara have a superb reputation and the price includes the complete diff housing etc

Maxi/Kam both require axle case modifications with actuators required.

for ease and simplicity ARB was my choice.

McNamara does make a diff housing to enable Toyota CW & pinion to be fitted to the Rover housing. This is the hypoid option.

This is the locker kit for standard diff.

The top pic of parts, shows the vacuum actuator, which is not used now. The new pneumatic actuator is shown on the bottom pic of the assembled diff.

McNamara also have lockers for Salisbury, Dana 60/70, Toyota Hilux and Land Cruiser and will soon support Nissan Patrols.

Also their lockers are air operated (no longer have the vacuum option). Their air actuator is much more reliable than ARB.

Post edit to link to pics add a web page and to add futher information.

[jules]

For what its worth

I run ARB front and rear. I am very happy to date I have had them fitted for about three years and no trouble yet

I run a 4.2 V8 through a auto box on 35" EX2's that is driven flat out or not at all.

the truck will do power slids and donuts quit happily when playing

I have one the slindon challange with it a few years ago

All I have managed to do is twist the KAM shafts after two years I think that was money well spent.

If you let the red mist set it the lock or shafts will give no mater what you by nothing is unbrakable.

I broke a reiger stut and M-sport were shocked saying that they had never managed it in there WRC cars.

[Michele]

Their air actuator is much more reliable than ARB

G'day John,

I'd be interested into know more about this...on the design differences side...just for tech knowledge...anything you may want to add/explain?

Also,how many actuator failures are you aware of?

(touch wood)

[isuzurover]

IMHO Jack MacNamara make the best locker.

Maxi-drive and MacNamara are both better than ARB. Maxi-drive are a little slow to disengage (an issue when used in the front), which is why MacNamara are best.

MacNamara lockers are now relabled by TJM (as Pro locker from memory).

I agree with John.

I am extremely happy with my Maxi-Drive locker. Never had the slightest problem with it.

[Michele]

I am extremely happy with my Maxi-Drive locker.

you're biased mate

[jules]

I said in the past I have not played much with the challage truck over the last 10 months but Maxidrive was always date money like nothing was less than a grand is that still the case, or are thay still not in the slitest bit competatively priced.

[northernchris]

ARB is orderd and on it way!!

Cheers for all your coments.

Ashcrofts as helpfull as ever,on the ball no messing around etc cheers David

Chris

[white90]

Jules I couldn't decipher your post but:

Maxi Drive are competivley priced but we have to order via companies that add a large mark up.

making them expensive over hear.

Can't Ali start posting you some bits as presents?

[isuzurover]

I said in the past I have not played much with the challage truck over the last 10 months but Maxidrive was always date money like nothing was less than a grand is that still the case, or are thay still not in the slitest bit competatively priced.

No idea about in the UK, but Maxi-Drive are competitively priced in OZ - when you think about what you get for your money.

In OZ, a Maxi-Drive is about AUD$2000 for a complete rover rear axle assembly (about $1400 for a sailsbury). For that money, as well as the locker, you get 2 24 spline 1.24" diameter halfshafts made from AMS6418 (HY-TUFF) which is one of the best axle steels available.

An ARB and a Jacmac locker (both made in OZ), cost about AUD$1300 for the locker alone, without any halfshafts. If you buy halfshafts from Jacmac, Maxi-Drive, or elsewhere, it will easily cost you the remaining $700.

You can of course by a 10 spline ARB, if you want to save money, and use factory 10 spline halfshafts, but that is a waste of money as you will need to upgrade later when you start breaking 10 spline shafts. A mate with a rangie running 32" tyres, and a 10 spline ARB locker managed to break both rear halfshafts one hill.