Had a run with the new ARB front air locker on the weekend. Here is a quick generalization from only a short period of use.
Improvement to the cars ability is considerable - I would guess a similar amount as turning on the rear locker for those with that option.
In a quick test over a big rock it was similar to the rear locked cars. I think I got a little further...but there is always the effort factor to consider too.
I was a bit concerned with all the broken CV talk so wasn't as aggressive as I could or would normally have been and after seeing the pics, if I would have hit it a little harder and used the handbrake there is every chance I may have climbed that one....but it was dragging the car across on it's sliders...love those AVA rocksliders!
I wonder if Jop can give me a call on effort and what he thinks if he hit it harder?
Took on a hill that was pretty tough, but it was at least a 50/50 traction thing I think although I would never have climbed it without the locker.
No one else could get up - or was willing to bash their way up so still not sure about the comparison....did any of the guys that didn't make it have a rear locker?
I did notice that all those that tried and didn't make it ended up in potentially roll over situations where at the same spot while trying different lines I never even came close...could also be track wear factor too as I was first.
One thing you get with a front locker is the ability to keep the thing in line on a perilous rearward sliding descent.
Unlike what a lot of people say, I believe it is the rear locker that pushes you off course. The fronts give you steerability (is that a word) in most situations just like when people use Super select in the rain for the same reason.
So when sliding backwards it isn't a bad thing to have both front wheels able to turn and steer you...at least a little.
I found ZERO difference to steering when having a go at anything..BUT...if you are stopped (stuck) with your fronts in contact with solid ground (on that big dry rock) and the wheel is turned at between half and full lock...you can not straighten the wheel with the locker engaged. It isn't tight...it's locked. No problem to disengage the locker, turn and go on, but just something that surprised me. In a less extreme position it may not even surface as it never happened again.
This will take some experience to work out how and why it all works and what it does, but isn't in any way concerning me...at the moment at least.
Having the car on the sliders and centre cross member and the fronts only in contact, the spinning wheels did follow a crevice and try and spin the car 90 degrees...but again it was pivoting on a fulcrum and fronts were in a crevice so should be expected. Normally they would just spin one and fight each other.
In saying that, you know it's happening straight away and just stop....I did notice though that you are hard on the bouncing ABS for maybe a second or 2 when stopping the spinning locked wheels in this or any stalled situation...interesting as I've never experienced that before - never had ABS before either. Probably still too much right foot..
Don't think that would be an issue when crawling though which is where it will be outstanding compared to an open diff...picks up the front or back wheel in a 'salute' no problems
Purposely dropped the rears into a gully and onto the rear bar so it was stuck...engaged the locker and drove out like it was a car park
Anyway looking forward to a proper test as I think they will be a good thing in comparison.
Having both front and rear locker would make the car a mountain goat....but as people have said you would eventually (probably very quickly) find yourself where you shouldn't be and definitely wish you had a winch.