The $1400 Sticker- ARB Locker Price

[wfd175]

I had B&D (Villa Ridge, MO) install a rear ARB locker a few weeks ago. I took care of the electrical part, which was all plug and play for the most part. I’m waiting on locking the front until I do a front axle service, I don’t think it’s necessary to pay the shop $60/hr to clean grease and oil. I can do that myself. Brian at B&D did install the HD air hose section which connects to the axle and the frame. Basically, it’s a rubber jacketed airline, rather than the thin blue air hose, which you can also plug directly into the axle fitting, without using the HD section.
Everything works fine as you would expect. Until a factory locker switch comes in, I surface mounted 3 ARB switches on the right side of the dash. The compressor only kicks on for a second or so when locking and unlocking.
Brian at B&D did have some difficulty removing the rear axle from the hub on the driver’s side. Evidently it was stuck together. This added about 2.5-3 hours of labor to the price. Otherwise, it would have been around 1200-1300, out the door.
I used the small ARB compressor since already I have a porta-hillbilly air system. (Kobalt Contractor Air from Lowe’s)
To run the harness and 10ga power wire to the interior, I found a handy cutout in the insulation on the interior, (left of the steering column penetration though the firewall) which corresponds to a cut out on the firewall insulation in the engine compartment. Obviously, it’s there for this purpose.

 

[womacje]

more pics please. Switch location, under hood, and that kobalt compressor.

 

[wfd175]

Additional Photo's


Compressor Mount


Temporary Switch Location


Factory Firewall Penetration

 

[wfd175]

Yellow Top Conneection


Battery Connection with winch switch

 

[Box Rocket]

I know it's temporary, but I hope you don't hit your shin very hard on the switch plate. Could leave a nice mark.

Good stuff.

 

[wfd175]

more pics please. Switch location, under hood, and that kobalt compressor.

As you can see it's not a Kobalt compressor, I have a Kobalt CO2 system. Refills/exchanges are $7.00 at Lowe's.

Portable Compressed CO2 Regulator

 

[FJBen]

As you can see it's not a Kobalt compressor, I hav a Kobalt CO2 system. Refills/exchanges are $7.00 at Lowe's.

Portable Compressed CO2 Regulator

I'm hoping you have it hooked up to a 10 or 15lb CO2 tank?

because $7.00 for that little tube/tank is INSANE$$$$

 

[wfd175]

I actually have 2 of the 20oz tanks. The one in the photo is a 9oz that comes with the kit. I realize it doesn't pack the punch of a 10# or 20# CO2 system. But it really does a nice job of airing back up a few sets of tires.

For the first 20 oz bottle I'm up to 4-33's (Miescha's) and 2x 35's (Mine) from 20 psi back up to 38, and the bottle is still reading almost full. I have less than 100.00 in the system. and it barely takes up any room in the tool kit. The flow is rather fast also. I haven't tried any air tools yet.

I'm planning on doing a full "field test" with a 20 oz bottle, to see how many air up's and downs I can get out of one. I'll report after I'm done.

 

[MoJ]

As you can see it's not a Kobalt compressor, I hav a Kobalt CO2 system. Refills/exchanges are $7.00 at Lowe's.

Portable Compressed CO2 Regulator

The 20oz tanks from Lowe's look promising. I was amazed at how fast they aired up 4 tires and yet the tank was still near full. If you could get 4-5 wheeling trips out of one tank at $7 it seems like a decent deal considering the relatively small initial investment. Hmmm, have to buy a tank and mooch off of wfd's regulator next time out....

 

[Atoyot1031]

Nice install! Like boxrocket said, I'd kill my shins on that location. Have you considered using the OEM locker switch. Superclean looking, and then you only have to install a switch for the compressor (my compressor switch is an OEM switch as well for the transmission IIRC)? Anyways looks good and I know how good it feels to have that!

Keep it real out there in Mo-land. I think we may be bringing our 80 to the STL when we come in June for a wedding (Meisha owes me Redbird tickets, I haven't forgotten), so hopefully I can hookup with a couple of you guys and get some good ole' Missoura wheelin' in!

Take care!

 

[wfd175]

Nice install! Like boxrocket said, I'd kill my shins on that location. Have you considered using the OEM locker switch. Superclean looking, and then you only have to install a switch for the compressor (my compressor switch is an OEM switch as well for the transmission IIRC)? Anyways looks good and I know how good it feels to have that!

Keep it real out there in Mo-land. I think we may be bringing our 80 to the STL when we come in June for a wedding (Meisha owes me Redbird tickets, I haven't forgotten), so hopefully I can hookup with a couple of you guys and get some good ole' Missoura wheelin' in!

Take care!

The switch mount looks worse in the photo's than it actually is. It's temporary and really not that bad. It may be physiologically impossible for me to raise my leg up to hit it. It I hit something hard enough to drive my shin into the dash, I think I'll be more pissed about what I hit. I just didn't wan't the switches dangling. It only took about a half hour to make the bracket. It's velcroed to the dash.

I do have the OEM switch on order. I actually ordered it 2 weeks ago and need to follow up with the local Toy Dealer. The price is 38.00. Not having seen the switch yet, are the connections straightforward, or should I get a FSM wiring diagram for the switch. I'm planning on either hooking both the compressor and rear locker to the rear lock position. Or installing the ARB compressor switch on the dash, and using the OEM diff. lock switch as it was originally intended. My only concern would be what to do if I only wanted the front locked to do some sort of techinal type maneuver.

Give us a heads up in June. We can plan yet another spring trip. Conversely, I would like to go wheeling in Western CO/Utah in the near future, possibly later this year or next spring.

 

[Atoyot1031]

Sounds good! Let me know when you are thinking about coming out, and that will determine somewhat what trails we can run out here based on our huge snow year and what will probably be late meltoff on a lot of the high altitude passes.

Go Redbirds!