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ARB Air Lockers.  This portion of my on-board air system was accomplished as part of my S2K Build-Up during the Summer of 2000.  As the name implies, these lockers are powered by compressed air (and electricity, to activate a solenoid, which releases the air into the locker).  Most people simply purchase ARB's small electric compressor for this purpose.  But why spend an additional $200+ on an electric compressor, when you can plumb your ARBs right off of your York system?  The additional parts required to do this cost me around $50.

Along with your air lockers, you also get the required solenoids, switches, and switch covers.   The wiring harness, however, comes as part of the ARB compressor.   And even though I wasn't going to purchase the compressor, I was able to purchase the wiring harness separately for $20 directly from ARB U.S.A.   The new ARB switches are really slick; they snap right into the 3-switch bezel to the left of the ashtray in the TJ. So I removed the 3 Cole Hersee toggle switches that I had installed there a few months ago and replaced them with the new ARB switches. The compressor master switch is now in the center, the front locker on the left, and the rear locker on the right ("right/rear" is how I remember the location). The switch/light combo that I previously installed for the compressor, in my Tuffy center console, was replaced with a couple of lighted toggle switches, which power a set of side lights for night rides.  Here are the new ARB switches.

Each switch has 5 leads on the back (times 3 switches); that’s 15 wire leads for me to have to figure out. That’s exactly why I chose to purchase the ARB wiring harness. The $20 bucks I paid for it was WELL worth it!! I was able to plug in the 15 switch leads in a matter of seconds. The compressor master switch is powered by one of the switched circuits in my Painless Wiring Circuit Isolator. Another wire from the ARB harness goes to one of your dash lights. The rest of the connections are under the hood. Two "Tee" connectors simply plug into the two solenoids (from the left and right ARB switches). The output wire from the master switch runs to my pressure switch, which in turn, powers the compressor. After connecting the ground, I cut off the few remaining unused wires (which would have connected to the ARB compressor and pressure switch).

Click here to view my York-to-ARB electrical wiring diagram

The next step was to create a pressure regulator/manifold to control the amount of air flowing to the lockers, and to plumb it into my York system. I made up a unit similar to Harry Brosofsky"s, which includes a pressure regulator, 0-160 psi pressure gauge, 100 psi pop safety valve, and the two ARB solenoids, all connected with various fittings (pictured on the left below). Using a pipe strap and a couple of sheet metal screws, I mounted the manifold to the ABS tray underneath the brake master cylinder. On the output end of my air tank, I added a "Tee" fitting and a piece of 3/8" air hose to power the manifold.  Note the additional in-line filter I've installed to supplement the oil and water separators that keep the York system clean (pictured on the right below).  Lastly, I hooked up the blue plastic air hoses from the diffs to the solenoids.  I was originally going to purchase a set of stainless braided air lines from JB Conversions, but while they were on back order, I changed my mind.  I decided that if a rock or other object was going to break something, I'd rather it rip out a cheap plastic air line instead of either the fittings in my diffs or my solenoids!

   

To Conclude my S2K Build-Up Tour