[mnemonix]

Been trying to order one of these lockers for the past 4 days. The Chingrish in emails is woeful. I've had to ask 3 times how they want to be paid, still with no reply.

Their current quote:
1 x RD88 locker = $466USD.
1x freight = $226.30USD to NSW.
Total = approx $672AUD.

[jimny_timmy]

mnemonix wrote:

Been trying to order one of these lockers for the past 4 days. The Chingrish in emails is woeful. I've had to ask 3 times how they want to be paid, still with no reply.

Their current quote:
1 x RD88 locker = $466USD.
1x freight = $226.30USD to NSW.
Total = approx $672AUD.

Don't forget the Chinese new year china will pretty much shutdown next week I think it is?

[jonfromhamilton]

mnemonix wrote:

Been trying to order one of these lockers for the past 4 days. The Chingrish in emails is woeful. I've had to ask 3 times how they want to be paid, still with no reply.

Their current quote:
1 x RD88 locker = $466USD.
1x freight = $226.30USD to NSW.
Total = approx $672AUD.

why the crazy high freight ?

[mnemonix]

I asked the same thing and got a Chingrish answer.

"I can sure our price of the products is not higher than our competitors, and our quality of the goods has good reputation,please rest assured.
And the freight,it not charge by us,it's really expensive than by sea,but it only need to take a little time,and it didn't need other charges.
So please understand that.No matter what problems,please contact with me any times.Everything we can negotiated.
"

[SierraDan]

Sounds like its getting flown over so will be quicker delivery and includes/avoids(whatever) any import taxes/dutys.

But $672 to your door. BARGIN!

[jonfromhamilton]

mnemonix,
I'd look on some other freight sites and get quotes based on the weight estimate etc and fire it back to them.

that price sucks won tons

[lordviper556]

i got quoted 140 freight and 490 for the locker last monday

[MrRocky]

interested how u guys go with the chingrish and timeframe
might be keen

[dank]

I bought a couple of hilux lockers from this mob and they were fucking shithouse. The shipping was quick and the price was right, but the product was absolutely woeful. There was so much tolerance in the spider gears in the centre, whenever the diff was loaded up it would push the piston off the seals and unlock itself. It happened with both lockers....you could stick your finger into the axle splines in the centre and move the gears around that much it was unbelievable. The hose is shit, both solenoids didn't work either.

Anyway. We ripped them out of the centres and installed prolockers and I'm in the process of trying to get my money back. Plus I have to send the shit back to them.

[MrRocky]

are these the same ?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Air-Locker-R ... 35b8b00704

[mnemonix]

Yeh they're the same lockers. I believe that seller is Jimbo?

Ordered mine from China today. Ended up being $680 including $30 for bank fees for the transfer.

[MrRocky]

how much are the arb ones ? $800-900 ?

[mnemonix]

Previous comments in this thread say more like $2500/pair.

[MrRocky]

installed ?
they are cheaper from lowrange i think

[mnemonix]

Yes, installed. And yes, cheaper from the USA also.
It's all in this thread only a few pages back.

[MrRocky]

soooo... many pages

[SierraDan]

MrRocky wrote:

how much are the arb ones ? $800-900 ?

I got quoted recently $1500 each installed. Plus the compressor installed which was $500. That's $3500..

[11_evl]

arb are offering free compressors with lockers atm

[ajsr]

mnemonix wrote:

I asked the same thing and got a Chingrish answer.

"I can sure our price of the products is not higher than our competitors, and our quality of the goods has good reputation,please rest assured.
And the freight,it not charge by us,it's really expensive than by sea,but it only need to take a little time,and it didn't need other charges.
So please understand that.No matter what problems,please contact with me any times.Everything we can negotiated.
"

that freight is about standard for express registered air frieght.
It cost me $68 to express 2 metal rod type things about 10mm dia and 450mm long to ningbo china, they weighed less than 300gms

and belive me you dont want it going sea freight, unless you like waiting

[monley]

SierraDan wrote:

MrRocky wrote:

how much are the arb ones ? $800-900 ?

I got quoted recently $1500 each installed. Plus the compressor installed which was $500. That's $3500..

I got quoted $3200 F&R installed with the compressor...

[jimny_timmy]

monkey wrote:

SierraDan wrote:

MrRocky wrote:

how much are the arb ones ? $800-900 ?

I got quoted recently $1500 each installed. Plus the compressor installed which was $500. That's $3500..

I got quoted $3200 F&R installed with the compressor...

Go and see the boys at tjm dan, if you take the diff centre to them they'll put it in and give it back to you and you'll save about $350 per locker, that's what I'm gonna do

[mnemonix]

Thats still ~$1600 more than the chink lockers, and noone (other than Joe who may be biased) can honestly say they've compared 1 against the other?

[Gwagensteve]

So to date 11 people "rate and recommend" these lockers.

I haven't gone through all 16 pages in detail, but I'm pretty sure the closest we've got is "some people at some 4WD shop I know fitted one once and it's been OK"

and "It looks OK"

I'm not knocking the people who have actually seen one and contributed, but I think we are a long way from a recommendation yet.


Steve.

[jimny_timmy]

Has everyone missed what dank wrote?

[Highway-Star]

Right.. I've been tossing up whether to comment in this thread seriously or not for a while...... looks like I'll try....


Background:

I have 2 of each type of locker. I have 2 genuine ARB RD88's in my Sierra. One was bought from a local ARB store, the other ordered through lowrange offroad.

I also have 2 Chinese built air lockers RD87's in my LJ80. These are a bit Frankenstein to make them work, as they belong in the front of a Jimny... but anyway. I'll also add the one in the front is actually half chinese and half genuine ARB. So for anyone wondering the parts are totally 100% interchangeable!

I run all my lockers off of the genuine ARB tyre inflation compressor. I haven't had any major issues with either type so far, except for some damage to one of the Chinese ones in the post which caused an air leak; and some damage to the ARB's bulkhead fitting from a flying rock (once again air leak).


ARB

Pros:
High quality finish. Check the details, smoother edges, smoother machining. "Prettier" ...
ARB claim stronger, by all means plausible, but I have no hard facts.

Cons:
Expensive
ARB's customer service, or in fact total lack of... months of waiting for the item... etc etc. Not an issue if bought through lowrange offroad in the states.


Chinese copy

Pros:
Stupidly cheap
Excelent customer service (from the guys I bought mine through).
Shipped to my door in 4 days!!! (It takes ARB 4 days to pick their nose!!!)
I actually prefer the Chinese bulkhead fitting over the standard ARB one (no one use brass olive), but the heavy duty ARB one trumps this again (but is like another $100)

Cons:
Poorer finish. Side gears and spider gears are slightly questionable. Spacer ring supplied with the RD87's for use with JDM ring and pinions (and also accidentally Frankenstein LJ lockers) is of incredibly poor quality (haven't seen ARB equivelent to judge against, I had my own machined for a bottle of rum).
One of mine got damaged in transport. More of a random risk thing.




Please note I haven't voted in the poll, and won't. I'm not going to recommend what anyone does... If I was to buy another one for something, I couldn't tell you offhand what I would chose, except that I would never ever ever buy anything from ARB themselves again; I would go through lowrange offroad again . Anyway, make of that what you will...

[Shansh]

mate thanks for an honest and clearly written out post explaining your opinion of both, rather than going down the path of telling people what to get.

I am a long way off buying lockers but have been reading this thread hoping to get a good idea of what to expect from both ARB and the chinese ones, your post among a few others has been very helpful.

[Highway-Star]

Shansh wrote:

mate thanks for an honest and clearly written out post explaining your opinion of both, rather than going down the path of telling people what to get.

I am a long way off buying lockers but have been reading this thread hoping to get a good idea of what to expect from both ARB and the chinese ones, your post among a few others has been very helpful.

No worries.


I'll just add the reason why I decided to "try" the chinese ones in the LJ. Basically I had a theory on how to make RD87's fit into the LJ diff. I lacked confidence though, so opted to take a much cheaper gamble with the cheaper diffs. I did end up having to take to an RD88 side gear (put insde the RD87 to make it 26 spline) with a grinder to make it "shorter".... (one per diff) sort of glad I did that to some $35 gears instead of $400ish for genuine ones...

[SierraDan]

jimny_timmy wrote:

monkey wrote:

SierraDan wrote:

MrRocky wrote:

how much are the arb ones ? $800-900 ?

I got quoted recently $1500 each installed. Plus the compressor installed which was $500. That's $3500..

I got quoted $3200 F&R installed with the compressor...

Go and see the boys at tjm dan, if you take the diff centre to them they'll put it in and give it back to you and you'll save about $350 per locker, that's what I'm gonna do

TJM is dearer at the moment cos ARB are giving away compressors. Otherwise it's the same price to the dollar.

I'm not paying that much for an air locker.

[Damo_13bpp]

Just fitted one of these chinese lockers,
Actually impressed, its tighter than a nuns nasty.
Will post how i go on weekend adventures

[dank]

jimny_timmy wrote:

Has everyone missed what dank wrote?

Their aftermarket support was ok, they had no problem with a return. but they wouldn't supply any additional parts, i asked for pretty much everything in the centre to be replaced and they wouldn't do it.

We also ordered a Rear locker for the XJ comp truck....this is installed now since I last posted, it locks, holds air and hasn't broken driving it around the warehouse so...first comp is end of this month so i'll get back with results. The jeep has an ARB front and Soong Rear.