Product Details
Rear Competition Edition Air Locker by ARB®. Engineered and manufactured in Australia, the competition Air Locker has been designed around the requirements of top-flight ULTRA4 racing. Each technical advancement addresses a specific concern from teams competing in the world’s toughest 4x4 events and is a direct result of testing within these same races. This Air Locker is for the top-tier racer or the hardcore enthusiast who demands the best equipment for their vehicles. Everyone can benefit from the research and development ARB has committed to the competitive racing circuits.
Features
- 290% increased case strength
- Deeper clutch gear engagement
- Built to handle misalignment in steeply offset axle housings
- Improved internal oiling
- Ring gear bolt locking mechanism
- Designed to integrate with load-bolt equipped drop-outs
- Pre-loaded internal gears
- Forged gear set
- Carrier bearings included in installation kit
- Manufactured and assembled in Australia
Many people believe that a 4x4 and traction go hand in hand...you can't have one without the other. However, your vehicle's standard (or open) differential is designed to allow each wheel to turn independently, thus eliminating binding during turns. While off road this becomes a major burden as engine power will take the path of least resistance, which occurs at the wheels with little or no traction.
Newer vehicles with limited slip differentials may offer some improvement, but more often you'll find the slipping not 'limited' enough to maintain forward progress. Automatic locking differentials also have their disadvantages. Aside from being noisy when disengaging, they can also upset the on-highway driving characteristics of your vehicle.
Created to provide 100% traction on demand, without sacrificing any of your vehicle's highway driving performance, ARB Air Lockers employ a 12 volt ARB Air Compressor designed to activate (and deactivate) a solid and durable locking mechanism inside the differential. This gives you the traction you need, when you need it, all at the flip of a switch and all within the comfort of the driver's seat.
The advantage of the ARB Air Locker lies in the pneumatically operated locking system inside the differential. When activated, the Air Locker prevents the differential gears from rotating and therefore prevents the axle shafts from turning independently of each other. With both wheels tied directly to the rotation of the ring gear, the vehicle maintains maximum possible traction at all times. When unlocked, it operates just like a conventional 'open' differential.
In addition to providing outright improvements to a 4x4's off road capabilities, the Air Locker offers significant environmental benefits. An Air Locker equipped vehicle can be driven in a slower, safer and more controlled manner, greatly reducing the likelihood of vehicle damage and environmental impact.
ARB Air Lockers are currently available in over 100 configurations to suit a wide range of 4x4 vehicles from around the world and can be installed in both the front and rear axles. Installation should be performed by a qualified differential technician, although no special tools or skills are required apart from those necessary for fitting a standard differential. ARB also offers three compressor models suitable for Air Locker operation, two of which can be used to inflate tires and other equipment such as air tools.
The origins of ARB® can be traced back to Australia’s remote Top End, circa 1975. A region of vast distances and rugged terrain, it was fast becoming a Mecca for the nation's burgeoning 4WD community. However, the very environment that attracted 4 wheelers also wreaked havoc on their equipment – when driving in extreme conditions, only the best 4x4 accessories will do. Today, ARB is Australia’s largest manufacturer and distributor of 4x4 accessories. They also have an international presence, with an office in the US and an export network that extends through more than 80 countries around the globe. ARB's philosophy, however, has never wavered from its original course – quality, reliability and practicality above all else.