Has anyone install ARB Air Lockers in a 2016+?

[Fisher23]

Normally I install my own gears and lockers, but I've never done them on a Toyota before.

To install the ARB lockers I need to put in gears as the 2016+ comes with what they call thick gears and the ARB lockers only fit with thin or normal gears.

I'm thinking 33's or 34's and this has the 8 speed so what gears would be best with this?

Is there a shop around that will do an exchange?

 

[indycole]

Generally, it seems like most folks have decided on 4.30 for the 8-speed transmission. I did 4.88s fairly early on and have been very, very happy though academically the 4.30s are the right answer.

I've seen some of our forum vendors (Cruiser Outfitters, Valley Hybrids, Slee) mention the idea of shipping a completely assembled rear carrier ready for plumbing/wiring. I'm not sure if they do the same for the front, but the last time I heard there are some tricks to doing gears and an ARB locker in the front, though perhaps some have done it. I know that gears + Harrop can work in the front, though. I just don't remember whether it required custom parts or was just a tricky install.

 

[jamgolf]

You might find this thread helpful:

Regear 8-speed from 3.3 to 3.9?

I will be getting front + rear lockers for my 2020 LC200 and in the process will getting new front + rear new OE differentials with 3.93 gears. I will be running 285/70R18 tires at 33.98". I wanted to ask if anyone has either regeared to 3.93 and how you feel about the change in terms of...

forum.ih8mud.com

I am going to get OEM 3.9 gears.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

To answer your question, yes we have @ Cruiser Outfitters.

 

[Hams202]

You might find this thread helpful:

Regear 8-speed from 3.3 to 3.9?

I will be getting front + rear lockers for my 2020 LC200 and in the process will getting new front + rear new OE differentials with 3.93 gears. I will be running 285/70R18 tires at 33.98". I wanted to ask if anyone has either regeared to 3.93 and how you feel about the change in terms of...

forum.ih8mud.com

I am going to get OEM 3.9 gears.

I am on a 2019 8 spd rig. I started out at 4.88's with 34" tires. It was ridiculous on the highway. 10mpg. I changed down to the 4.30's and it much better; around 15mpg highway now. I find it is quite good towing. My typical load is an Aluma 16' aluminum tandem axle trailer. I normally haul a polaris rzr turbo s and two ATV's. It would be right on 6000lbs and my tongue weight is around 500lbs if I put the atv's on the front of the trailer to bring up tongue weight. The LC tows this load quite well with the 4.30's in the moutains. I can get over Wolf Creek Pass easily. I don't find that it shifts excessively between 7-8.

I don't know if you tow ever and what your setup will be - but I have also contemplated the 3.90. I think my real-world feedback would suggest that my truck would struggle more towing with the 3.90's and would constantly hunt between 7-8. Unladen I think the 3.90 would be really nice with a taller tire. I also think it would pair really well with a 295/70/17 (I run RW's) which is a 33.5" tire.

I don't meant to derail the conversation; just on my mind!

- Chris.

 

[jhg]

I've read everything above and the linked thread, but I am still confused.

Question: When installing ARB lockers on a 2016+, does regearing to the thinner OEM 3.9 eliminate the necessity of switching to a pre-2016 front carrier?

Mr. Slee sounds like changing the carrier is necessary. Please skip to 10:55

But Eric's video (Ed Martin Toyota) sounds like gears alone can solve the deck height issue.

Thank you for your insights!

 

[jhg]

I don't know why Eric's video didn't link properly.

Front Carrier Differences in 200 series

 

[CharlieS]

Yep, you need the front clamshell from an earlier 200 to put in a 16+ if you are going with a lower ratio gear set. I recently put 3.91:1 in my 2016, but I had to get the clamshell from an earlier 200 series (some Tundra front clamshells work too). You'll find everything you need to know if you search here on 'mud.

 

[nor_cal_cyclist]

Running 4.30's and ARB's front and rear on 305/65-R18s. I don't tow (yet - will probably tow my FJ40 on a trailer at sometime), but tend to haul the equivlant of 3 passengers all the time (gear and 2 BIG dogs). My 2019 lives in the mountains & I average around 12-14 depending on terrain and how aggressive I am with the skinny pedal.

 

[Fisher23]

I've read everything above and the linked thread, but I am still confused.

Question: When installing ARB lockers on a 2016+, does regearing to the thinner OEM 3.9 eliminate the necessity of switching to a pre-2016 front carrier?

Mr. Slee sounds like changing the carrier is necessary. Please skip to 10:55

But Eric's video (Ed Martin Toyota) sounds like gears alone can solve the deck height issue.

Thank you for your insights!

Many people do go with an earlier clam, but it is ONLY so you can build the lockers and then just swap out the diffs.

The problem with the front ARB locker is that it will not fit with the "thick" front 331 ring gear. Not enough room.

When I talked with the ARB tech in WA, they were absolutely sure that you only needed to re-gear with "thin" gears for the locker to fit the front diff.

Unfortunately no-one makes a "thin" 331 gear set that you can put in just the front clam diff, so you need to re-gear both front and rear. They need to match.

The ARB rear locker does fit in the rear with the "thick" 331 gears, just not in the front..

You do not need to go to an early clam on the front, you just need "thin" gears in there.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Ben @ Slee and myself were working with ARB to build a 16+ specific front locker however based on demand versus the number waiting to re-gear, it wasn't a top level priority.

We regularly install 3.90 F/R diffs w/ARB in 16+. We've done a dozen or so in the last year.

 

[CharlieS]

Many people do go with an earlier clam, but it is ONLY so you can build the lockers and then just swap out the diffs.

The problem with the front ARB locker is that it will not fit with the "thick" front 331 ring gear. Not enough room.

When I talked with the ARB tech in WA, they were absolutely sure that you only needed to re-gear with "thin" gears for the locker to fit the front diff.

Unfortunately no-one makes a "thin" 331 gear set that you can put in just the front clam diff, so you need to re-gear both front and rear. They need to match.

The ARB rear locker does fit in the rear with the "thick" 331 gears, just not in the front..

You do not need to go to an early clam on the front, you just need "thin" gears in there.

I must've misunderstood. I thought the front diff didn't fit the other gears. I stand corrected. Thanks for explaining.

I have a set of dropout front and rear diffs from my 2016, if anyone is looking.