Axel build questions

[olin18]

I am in the process of building a set of axels. And I would like these to be the last ones I have to build for a good long while. I want to lock the rear and have a few questions. I am NOT going to use cheap parts, I have decided on one of these three.

Detroit Softlocker
Detroit truetrac
ARB (Would like the best)

What is the difference between the two detroits? Is the soft locker the one to have. Because if it is... I think I will just spend the extra $100 for the ARB, because this truck will have on board air anyway.

And one other thing, can you run an ARB locker without an air line? Say the air line gets ripped off by a branch or somthing, can you drive it without the line (as an open diff of course) but is there any damage that happes in the even of a line ripping off?
Thanks for any help.
Oh and the axels i am building are D44's

[scotty]

other than possible dirt/water contamination i dont think it hurts to run an arb withthe air line not present. you are no worse off that you were before with an open diff.

i personally like the looks of the OX lock alittle better than the ARB these days. there are a couple of other companies jumping on the selectale locker band wagon,so hopefully prices will start to come down when some these others come out.

the true trac is an excellent liited slip. i have one in my front axle and like it very mch,tho id ratehr have a selectable locker than it.

if you need a locker rather than a LSD go with your choice of selectable locker. if a LSD is all you really need,id highly recomend the true trac over any clutch type unit.

[olin18]

So when people refer to their locked axels, and they say they have a detroit... They are talking about a Detroit softlocker. If the truetrack is only a limited slip, then I don't want that. This Jeep will see mostly Mud and crud. I am looking for a solid set up. I guess that I am looking at an ARB, or Detroit softlocker. The OX is also a cool set up that I hadn't really thought about. I will have to do some price checking.

[greasyjeep]

Was out with a guy that had a OX. He had a shop set it up for him that had experience with the OX and still had problems with it poping out. I have a F/R ARB in my little jeep and have had little to no problems with them.
The first time I installed the rear the hole was not filed out enough and I rubed a hole in the copper tube. But even then the locker held, the compressor just never shut off.

[tomd]

Originally posted by greasyjeep:
Was out with a guy that had a OX. He had a shop set it up for him that had experience with the OX and still had problems with it poping out. I have a F/R ARB in my little jeep and have had little to no problems with them.
The first time I installed the rear the hole was not filed out enough and I rubed a hole in the copper tube. But even then the locker held, the compressor just never shut off.Isn't that why they came out with the new shifter? I had a friend with one, and the only problems he had was with having to turn the wheel and roll a little to get everything to line up, but that was with the old shifter.

[River Beast]

I run the Detroits Softlocker in F/R with 4.89's and 38's... I LOVE THEM!!! Now if you have inclimate weather with snow and ice... go ARB or OX you get the best of both worlds... choice of open or locked...

I would choose the OX Locker over ARB for the simple fact it does not rely on air... it's cable actuated and the new shift lever has corrected the popping out of locked position from what I have read.

[FSJeeper]

I have heard the OX still guts mud and crap in the cable system and still has problems. If you are a rock crawler, they are great but if you get
into mud, you will have problems.

In my opinion, the new Detroit and Eaton electric lockers are the best on the market.

[olin18]

Thanks for the great advise. The Jeep that is going on top of these axels will see very very few rocks. Mostly mud. And it will see some snow. I think that it will be a detroit softlocker, or ARB. When credit time rolls aroud that will be the true gut check.