Air Locker vs Zip Locker

Comparing a Dana 30 ARB AirLocker and a Randy's Ring and Pinion Dana 30 Zip Locker. These tests are using identical axle shafts.

[@Joevacs]

The guy that said he had never seen this kind of damage must not have been at ARB 17 years ago because this exact thing happened to me with an ARB air locker in 1998 on my full size, '96Ford Bronco. I had an 8.8 Ford rear end with ARB installed and the entire case of the ARB cracked just like the zip locker in the video. I replaced it with a Detroit locker after sending the broken locker back to ARB. They looked at it and said they had never seen one do that. I'm not saying their product is junk, but for them to pretend that the competitor product is junk and theirs never breaks is not completely accurate.

[@slayerjohn447]

Perhaps they weren't expecting that amount of damage to occur?

[@fakellacountly1943]

At only 274ft/lb difference between the tests, it should be noted that if there are a variance of 274/6545x100% = 4.2% or greater in the twist strength of the ARB axles the result could have been identical. You should test the ARB locker to destruction as well if you want to make a point. Variance from axle to axle would have to be checked by twisting them to destruction as well. Any good 4 wheeler would get home with either. You just free wheel the front end and go 2wd in the first case. When testing to demonstrate your product you need to be very objective or the testing is meaningless and cannot have solid conclusions drawn from it.

[@stipitza]

+Fakell Acountly I think the closing statement was more to the point rather than the strength of the unit. When the Yukon lets go, it takes your whole diff with it

[@brettknoss486]

True, ideally a true extreme test should be performed to test the upper limits of the differential.

[@gumwap1]

This test was also done with a prototype zip locker before it was in production. Yukon stands behind their product with a replacement +$2000 for damages guarantee. I'm puting yukons in my Toyota.

[@cbr1100xxPL]

test is so open to interpritation, plus shock damage is what kills diffs and not slow increase of torque

[@fungunsforu]

Well now there's no way i would use a zip, my 4cyl truck puts out way more than 6000 lb/ft.

[@lordaleksandre]

If your 4 cyl truck's engine make 200 lb/ft of torque at peak, and you have first gear in your transmission of 3.5:1, and transfer case low range of 2.72:1, and axle gears of 4.56:1, then the torque applied to the wheel is 8,600 ft/lbs. And if you accept this videos premise, you should reconsider before employing a zip locker.

[@chippyjohn1]

was just doing my own math before I read this. im looking for a locker for my little truck and the figure I came up with in lowest gears possible is 22000 lb/ft

[@lordaleksandre]

Selectable locker's are super great for trucks that have to pull double duty on-road and off, but they're no magic bullet. I feel that the point of this vid was to remind a purchaser that the part you want to snap is the cheapest, easiest to change part, and that's always the axle shafts. P.S. - You'll never have to worry about putting that much (22k ft/blbs) down, even against a wall I don't think it would happen.

[@heavymetalmadness666]

How much grip does anyone think the tire will ever make anyway???

[@onetruebob_tj]

I'd believe this 'test' if it was completed by an independent agency not ARB. Also, the ARB Lockers costs a lot more $$, so I would hope it would be better built.

[@DonziGT230]

It would be interesting to see what the differences would be if these were shock load tested as that's what usually breaks stuff off-roading.

[@slayerjohn447]

Really hard to simulate the popping of a clutch with the engine in the power band with a hydro-rig like that.

[@joshuaodowd9107]

Hey arb make your lockers a little more affordable and I'd be happy to buy them

[@Crawlerjamie]

Joshua Odowd get a better job. They’re worth every penny

[@raypell7553]

Technology costs!

[@55Rumble]

Hey there, I have to agree with Joshua.... I drive a Gen2 4Runner and as much as I understand the "Technology costs" and so on, I can't justify buying these.... :-( If I were to put two in (front and rear) That would cost more than I paid for the truck! Lol....

[@madpaj]

Great video guys.... great to see an objective video

[@88s10Durango]

Have you done this test with a Aussie locker and Spartan locker ? Would be very interesting !Cheers ....

[@alper5005]

excellent video. very informative and convincing thanks for sharing.

[@forgotmylogininfo]

What ring & pinion was used with the ARB? Shouldn't both axles be installed for test? test both to failure

[@GarageBuddys]

💪ARB for ever

[@erichawj]

I want to see it with axles on each end, not just one end. in the field, there are two axles going into that locker

[@TrevorR]

The reason the other axle is not installed in the test is that that side gear is locked to the case by the clutch and no force is applied to the pinion gears and both lockers should twist the axle till it breaks. By holding the axle as in the video all the load is through the side and pinion gears.

[@exceleratorjoshua]

So what I learned from this video is that BOTH lockers are more than tough enough for off roading rock crawling. It takes extreme torque for them to fail

[@bdd1469]

Looks like a zip locker is good enough. An axle that small should never be used to support enough weight to have enough traction to break a zip locker.

[@samuellamont3971]

nice test but the air line is a plastic tube that leaks and you have no locker

[@Garbage19]

tube is is fix tho

[@Crawlerjamie]

Samuel Lamont hahaha proper installation and it will never fail. Ever.

[@MerpSquirrel]

You can see why the zip locker failed. Those thin walls in the case where they have those bolts, plus having the hole for the cross pins right through those holes.

[@WS-gw5ms]

There is a reason independent testing is a thing. I find this very unethical.

[@MerpSquirrel]

How is testing unethical? They were not miss representing themselves. Testing should obviously be done by every company. They just put their results on youtube. I am sure Yukon could do the same thing.

[@brianbirc]

aARB'S are popular but I went with the rachet kind like the Detroit front and rear of my fulsize Bronco with 4:56 gears for 35's for a 4" Cut & Turned lift ind front suspention with 4 wheel drive 17" front & 187" reAR WHEEL TRAVEL ON kING sHOCKS AND ON AND ON.

[@sec5601991]

we need show more test I like this video thanks.

[@Carl-rw7hp]

Done by ARB....after my experience with their bullbars I lost confidence in the brand.....

[@Crawlerjamie]

Everyone who thinks ARB isn’t worth it, has never had an ARB. They are the best lockers out there.

[@stevewaddell2486]

ok test the rest of the cases as well.

[@JeremyPetho]

They did but they only show the ones that break since they don't want to advertise other company's products. I have seen this test done on a lot of lockers and the only ones that broke were the Zip locker and the cheap copy of the ARB. The TJM air locker, Harrop elocker, Detroit Soft locker and other have all survived this test. Even the Lokka didn't break and it is probably the cheapest locker you can buy.

[@clayton203]

But one to run the streets and off road ,,I think the air locker would prevail,, it is selectable,,and no worries running the highway with a selectable air locker I wouldn’t think

[@littlegoobie]

of course, the big flaw in this test is it's only done once. if you did the same test 100 times, would the results be the same? we'll never know. This was a flip of the coin, just one time, with that one result extrapolated to infinity from the origin..

[@JeremyPetho]

It's a pretty standard test and the normal result is for the axle shaft to snap. It takes an especially weak product to break before the axle shaft snaps, even the cheapest diff locks you can buy will survive this test.

[@yerwrng]

I'd like to see these tested by independent sources...that being said I'd just spend the extra $100 to be sure I get what i'm paying for .

[@dembrowi_n_c.5111]

either way dont you have to take the diff cover off to remove the axle shaft.

[@billthetraveler9623]

I would like to see these made for the Rockwell 5-ton axles, hint hint

[@SeriousSchitt]

Schitt, well done ARB!

[@waynevmax]

To get all 6k lb of torque load on an axle/diff combo you would have to have your wheels in a vice on the trail? never the situation.

[@nathanhawkless6078]

it would want to be stronger as it 4 times the fucking price!!

[@heith85]

for me the axle shafts are worth more sooo yukon i guess

[@shyecjj]

Ok so I have to tone down my truck to under 6000 LB/FT got it....... DERPA DERPA DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[@chris6200]

Thanos that's 6000 pounds of force at the differential case you need to account for the gearing between the engine and the differential. most trucks have about 4:1 on the ring and pinion so divide by four 6000/4=1500 pounds on the drive shaft, then most trucks have about 2:1 in the transfercase so divide 1500/2=750 pounds of force at the T-case input shaft, next you have to account for the transmission most manual trucks have about 5:1 in first gear so divide by 5 750/5= 150 pounds of force at the engine fly wheel. That's stock 4 or 6 cylinder torque there. So if you had just one tire with traction and truck was stuck you could easily break it. These are pretty standard ratios for stock trucks without extreme low gearing. Next time think before open your mouth.

[@elfm2107]

but its filmed by arb so they fan film it how ever they want to plus you will never have the much force on trail

[@0356724082]

Self-fulfilling prophecy

[@oldreliable303]

weld, or spool

[@toms89stroker2009]

Bullshit you can see spidergear parts come out of the drain hole in the slow motion video.

[@revolutioninthespiri]

Impressive

[@licensetochill79]

any body here truck makes 6000+ fp of force. come on bs testing

[@deadbolt9019]

Gearing. You'd be surprised what deep diff gearing and 4:1 low range can do.

[@slayerjohn447]

4WD Low is all torque. You put the engine at 2,100 RPM and pop that clutch in low 1, you can put those diffs to the limit in milliseconds.

[@licensetochill79]

Slayer John if ur doing that ur a idiot. Never do that. There is no advantage in doing so

[@slayerjohn447]

I don't. Because it's stupid to do that with low range engaged.

[@JeremyPetho]

Almost all trucks put out more that 6,000 ft lbs of torque. For example you could have a small engine making 200. Multiply that by a standard 1st gear, low range and diff ratio you get 8,000 ft lb. With a different engine and gearing you can easily double or triple that.

[@lakeschoolrestorationchann1567]

Couple things to point out. The ARB design/materials are superior to the grizzly in that particular diff. You do get what you pay for. Is ARB worth a premium? Yes without a doubt since their products are actually tested, both in tests like this video and in real off roading. People often complain about ARB being too expensive, so they buy a cheaper knock off and find out after a failure why good stuff costs money. ARB diffs have travelled the world, are proven 10x over compared to grizzly. When in doubt it's better to go with what's proven over something that's not. Also, due to gear reduction it's not unreasonable to put the breaking torque onto the locker as shown. With one wheel bound with traction the twisting force that could be applied to the axel shaft could easily hit what they are claiming. People break axel shafts all the time off roading, especially in weaker axels (Dana 30s/40s) That brings serious doubt to the strength of the grizzly.locker design. If it has a chance to fail before a axel shaft does, and axel shafts are fairly commonly broken, that doesn't paint a good picture. I think ARBs point was that a failure as shown ends your whole axel, since the grizzly can't drive off on a trail. You would need to rebuild your whole rear end or possibly junk it due to collateral damage. The ARB diff survived well enough that a simple axel swap on the trail and your back in business. Since your average person never remotely uses their vehicles for off road, this test doesn't really do much for them. Just as built rockwells are almost indestructible but your average person has no need to ever use them. If your actually serious about off roading you would understand the merits of this test and use the results to determine if the performance difference suits your application. When it comes down to it I would take the ARB any day over most of the competition because I know it will take a beating and it is proven. The last thing I want out in the middle of nowhere is a failed diff over a broken axel shaft. I keep a spare shaft in my truck but as with most people, I don't carry a whole diff and bearings too.

[@ronmower3694]

Nice but were talking with Brian bead Monday morning quarterbacks cityiots hue dont ever do any of roading

[@nicholaskominski3746]

Hmmmm