| Author | Message | ||
     dave j matthews (Dave_matthews) New Member Username: Dave_matthews Post Number: 30 Registered: 10-2003 |
Guys, i have a 99 disco 1 and i want to buy locking diffs. i am looking at the ARB, but i have some questions before i drop the 1200 bucks. Do i need both front and rear (would it be wise to go ahed and get both? Do i need to get new axles for the front and rear? Or can i just change the diff? I do moderate off roading, nothing extreme, but i do want better performance. PLease, all thoughts and comments welcome. regards | ||
| Perry Ray Miller (Discojunky) Member Username: Discojunky Post Number: 46 Registered: 03-2003 |
D1 or D2? I just went thru all of this. If you are not going to lift over 2" or go any bigger than 31" tires or possibly 32" ( if your truck runs strong or if you don't live in the mountians)you can probably do with just the diffs ( rear if you can only afford one). Tires bigger than that and more lift will rob your engine of torque and you will probably want to regear. Which puts more strain on your axles which leads to heavy duty axles to be safe. So, it really depends on your budget and what you want out of your Disco. For moderate off road just put in a rear locker and enjoy or prepare to get sucked into the money pit with the rest of us! | ||
| Axel Haakonsen (Axel) Moderator Username: Axel Post Number: 741 Registered: 02-2003 |
Honestly, if you have to ask those kind of questions, you aren't ready for a locker yet. Why do you want a locker at this point? Why do you think you need one? What have you done to the truck so far? How are you planning to use it? That's the kind of questions you need to ask yourself first. - Axel | ||
| Brian Dickens (Bri) Senior Member Username: Bri Post Number: 996 Registered: 08-2002 |
If you just want lockers, go guy them, axles, gears, cvs, driveshafts, springs, shocks, spacers, bumpers... Moderate off-roading is easily done with a stock disco. Maybe ditch the air dams and running boards... | ||
| Ron Boston (Rbostoncadisco) New Member Username: Rbostoncadisco Post Number: 15 Registered: 12-2003 |
Dave, you don't have to get both. Been off roading with Jeeps, Landcruisers and new to disco, I would start with rear if you need traction aid. That's my current plan with my 98 Disco. Right now stock! In terms of labor/cost savings for ARB install, they are completely seperate. Once you have the compressor installed and one of the air channels connected to the rear locker, you can install the front locker at later time and connect it to the second air channel. Same goes with the wiring harness (built-in for 2nd locker), just add the 2nd button. Also wheel with it stock first and get to know your rig. Plan your mods based on where you are going to be wheeling. Half the fun is checking out your rig in stock form and seeing what it can do and where it needs improvement in your particular trail application. In doing so, also improves your driving skills. If your ARB compressor fails, good to have the basic skills e.g. drive over deep rutts on open diff!!!!! And even with front and rear lockers, you will get stuck in ext difficult trails; that's when your wheeling buddy gives you a tug or pull, and vice versa! Just got the disco and that's what I am doing this weekend at Hollister Hills. Also depending on where you wheel, you might just need better tires. For example, I started wheeling with Cherokee (96 XJ) and found the articulation in the front (I disconnected the anti-sway bar) sufficient for beg trails; I moved from street tires to AT then to mud - big improvement. When I moved up to more challenging trails, I needed rear locker to help traction. Then I needed lift, bigger tires, armor to clear bigger rocks, and finally front locker. 4 years working progress and still learning! Happpy trails! | ||
| dave j matthews (Dave_matthews) New Member Username: Dave_matthews Post Number: 31 Registered: 10-2003 |
right now i have a 4.5 inch lift and i am running 285/75/16. to answer axel's questions i want to do extreme stuff with my truck, that is why i am considering lockers. i do not want to ghet out on the trail an be inadequatly equiped. i have ARB in front and kaymar in rear. it is a disco 1. i do know my rig and i am experienced off road, i just wanted somne advice first before i spend that kind of money. i was also wondering if there were alternatives that are just as effective. | ||
| Rick Neff (Lostinboston) Senior Member Username: Lostinboston Post Number: 260 Registered: 06-2003 |
Detroit rear, ARB up front, if needed. Thats my $.02. Im running detroit rear with a TT up front because it helps keep me straight onthe highway. A locker would be nice up front sometimes though. I do not want to start another ARB vs Detroit debate. I would also suggest upgraded axles. | ||
| Rob Davison (Nosivad_bor) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Nosivad_bor Post Number: 1475 Registered: 02-2003 |
if you want to do "extreme" things you will need to spend thousands of dollars on modifications. you will need lockers and heavy duty everything or you will find yourself breaking things. especially with your big tires. rd | ||
| Michael Little (Mike_little) New Member Username: Mike_little Post Number: 1 Registered: 01-2004 |
Here is how I progressed hope this helps. I ran with open diffs until I broke the cross shaft on the spider in the rear. ( I am suprised you have not broken an axle or diff already on 33 inch tires?). I decided on an ARB for a replacement since my vehicle sees more highway use than trail, as previously stated once the first one is installed the second is not a big extra cost. I now find that with a rear locker that many obstacles that were a struggle now are easier and with the ARB you can choose to run locked or open. How much more of an advantage a front locker is depends on how hard core you wish to aspire to. Mike | ||
| Axel Haakonsen (Axel) Moderator Username: Axel Post Number: 744 Registered: 02-2003 |
Your stock axles won't last long with a locker, especially with the tire size you are running. If I were you, I would leave the front alone for now, and get a Detroit for the rear. I would also get a pair of HD axles from Great Basin to go along with the Detroit. You can get an ARB or Truetrack for the front later. When you say you have an ARB in front and a Kaymar in the back, I assume you are talking about bumpers. You should get a good winch to go with that ARB. If you haven't done that already, I would go so far as to say that you should get the winch before you get your lockers. And what about things like HD steering links, HD trailing arms, skid plates and rock sliders? Those are not so visible, but yet important items if you want to go "extreme", too. - Axel | ||
| Matthew A. Barnes (Discoveryxd) Senior Member Username: Discoveryxd Post Number: 322 Registered: 08-2003 |
A locker may get you through some of those rough spots, but what's going to pull you out when you get stuck in those rough spots? Just something to think about if you don't have a winch yet. | ||
| dave j matthews (Dave_matthews) New Member Username: Dave_matthews Post Number: 32 Registered: 10-2003 |
axel and matt...i agree with you both. the only thing that has steered me away from the detroit is that it always locked and that is a hazard on ice. as far as the rear links and all go i already have it. my suspension is totally complete, but the winch is on the way. regarding that, do you think the warn 9000 is enough? i really appreciate your advice. but just ti make sure that i am clear in understanding the posts...i CAN get the rear and keep the stock axles? thanks guys | ||
| Axel Haakonsen (Axel) Moderator Username: Axel Post Number: 745 Registered: 02-2003 |
I'll say it again, even if it isn't what you want to hear: Your stock axles will not last long with a locker, especially with the tire size you are running. Do it right, and get the Heavy Duty shafts, too. As for which locker to get, it's simple. If you like to press buttons, get an ARB. If you don't want to have to think about it, get a Detroit. Detroit is a hazard on ice? It's no worse than driving a rear wheel drive vehicle. I don't even notice mine anymore. - Axel | ||
| Blue (Blue) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Blue Post Number: 1071 Registered: 04-2003 |
Second owner, ARB rear and open front, stock axles (as far as I know), 245/75/16, 104k miles, over 70k miles are mine and the ARB has definitely been used. HD axles are a foregone conclusion for me, I feel like I've been living on borrowed time for a long time now. If/when I get off my ass & regear, I'll probably go detroit rear and move the ARB up front as long as I'm in there messing with the gears. I'm not particularly eager to go detroit, but I want to see what all these morons keep raving about. | ||
| Mike Rupp (Mike_rupp) Senior Member Username: Mike_rupp Post Number: 296 Registered: 02-2002 |
To add on to what Axel said, don't skimp on the axles thinking that you'll save money and just get them later. My brother ordered a Detroit and HD axles at the same time. Unfortunately the axles were schedules to come in a couple weeks later than the Detroit. We installed the Detroit before the axles showed up. He just couldn't wait to go offroading before getting the axles. On the first ledge, most of the weight was concentrated on the rear of the truck & snap! No more axle. Another thing to consider is that if you break an axle, the Detroit will most likely break as well. My brother's did. | ||
| Gord Wedman (Bcrover) New Member Username: Bcrover Post Number: 4 Registered: 12-2003 |
I had a Detroit locker in the rear of a CJ7 and could hardly notice it on the street. This was the newer "soft locker" version. I have read that Detroit's can be tricky to drive on snow/ice. Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to drive on snow/ice with it as my CJ was stolen (that's why I now have a Disco) so I don't know if the newer version has the same problem. | ||
| Tony Bishop (Discoboy) New Member Username: Discoboy Post Number: 1 Registered: 01-2004 |
I have a TD5 99 Series 2 which was useless in the sand. Traction control without the diff locks was a big mistake by LR. ARB put a centre diff lock in and now she much more adept. The current set up is such that, if you lock the diffs when the ignition is on, TC and ABS are still on. If you restart the vehicle with the diffs locked, you will notice that the TC and ABS light remain alight on the dash - TC and ABS are off. ABS is better for braking on ball bearing gravel, for example. The traction control can be a hinderance in sand. With TC off and the centre diff locked I believe the vehicle to be more capable. Background info: My disco has done 103,000km. Approximately half of that before I had the centre diff lock put in. I have circumnavigated Australia and done an extensive amount of driving on all surfaces. A note to Dave: The ARB salesperson had front and rear lockers fitted to his vehicle. He said, in retrospect, that a single centre locker would have been sufficient. If you are only a moderate user (i.e. not planning to do the Dakar), why waste the money? |
