OCTOBER 2019 jpmagazine.com Jp 65
The banjo bulkhead is cool, and there are
some other sweet accessories available that
may also be useful to you. This is an ARB
kit (PN 171314) to remote-mount an air hose
coupler any where on your Jeep to be able to fill
tires. It features flared JIC fittings for reliable
connections with ARB braided-steel hose
from the compressor to wherever you mount
the air hose coupler. Aside from this, there are
a lot of other gadgets ARB offers to keep you
equipped on the trail, so check out the compa-
ny’s website for the latest and greatest.There are a couple of obvious differ-
ences between the new design and
the original bulkhead design. One is
the banjo-style fitting that allows a
horizontal air line path to come into
the axle. There are also quite a few
more parts that make up the assem-
bly. There are now two O-ring seals
and a brass spacer instead of just
one O-ring seal on the original. There
is also a screw cap for the O-ring
chamber, so you cannot overtighten
the O-ring seals. On the original
bulkhead design, it was possible to
overtighten the assembly and crush
the O-ring or even pinch the copper
tube if you were not careful.If the horizontal banjo fitting isn’t
quite your st yle, then you’re in luck!
The new bulkhead fitting can also be
assembled into the traditional verti-
cal configuration. Simply leave out
the banjo coupler and bolt, and the
air line fitting threads right into the
base bulkhead adapter.
We need to talk about the elephant in the room
here. ARB has been using its trademark 5mm
blue air line for as long as we can remember,
so what’s the deal with the new black tubing?
Size does matter, and the new 6mm black air
line from ARB features a larger wall thickness
that is more durable than its 5mm little brother.
Both sizes share a common inner diameter for
equal airflow. The thicker 6mm line is a little
stiffer, as one would expect, so it always helps
to leave it in the sun or near a heater (not too
long or too close) for a bit to warm it slightly
and make it more flexible before routing it from
the axle to the compressor.
After the^1 ⁄ 4 -inch NPT fitting is threaded
into the housing with some sealing tape (to
prevent an oil leak), the O-rings are lubed
and worked onto the copper tubing with the
brass washer in between them. A small pick
or screwdriver was carefully used to push the
O-rings down the copper tube.
Next, the special cap is threaded on top to
set the correct height of the copper tube and
properly seal the fitting. Just tighten it snugly
with a large flat screwdriver; no need to kill
it. It seats near the base, leaving plenty of
threads for the next adapter.From there, the banjo fitting is screwed into
the main bulkhead with the sealing washers,
followed by the air line adapter and 6mm
air line. It is important to remember that it
is basically just a bolt holding the banjo in
place. The banjo and air line can act as a lever
arm and could potentially loosen the bolt.
Route and secure the air line in a way that it
will eliminate any torquing motion or force
during suspension articulation, ensuring the
fitting remains stationary. This banjo setup
is a great option for a low center of gravity
rig that doesn’t have much headroom under-
neath (or to clear a truss).Source
ARB USA,
866/293-9078,
arbusa.comIf you can work with the air line in the vertical
position, it is definitely preferred. This config-
uration eliminates four components and two
potential leak locations. There is plenty of
vertical space on the project this axle will end
up in, so this will be the setup that we use.
Always bench-test your Air Locker to confir m
proper operation of the locking mechanism
and that there are no air leaks prior to instal-
lation. If you find an issue, take the time to
investigate and eliminate the problem before
the axle is
mounted in
the Jeep.