Within the next month, we are having our gears and ARB's installed in our D44's. My question is whether or not to use upgraded air line hardware out of the diff?
I've seen sites online where people have used fittings other than those supplied with the locker. Have any of you broken off the brass fitting that comes out of the diff? On ice chunks or something along those lines. We don't plan on blasting through iced over mud, but those obstacles sometimes are a requirement on some of our PA runs. I can picture a 3" thick chunk of ice floating over the axle and taking out the airline... sheesh!
Thanks for the help.

Another possibility is welding some type of 'guard' on the diff housing..pending where they have the line come out?? Thoughts??
Stainless air lines would be nice someday but I'm not sure if that's necessary? More thoughts??

I'm going with stainless air lines all the way. That nylon tubing is a problem waiting to happen. You could put the tubing in some sort of steel loom, but that seems like a lot of work. You could also try running steel brake line. If the Ice takes out that, it should take out your brakes too.

We have had good luck using plastic line purchased from truck companies such as Freightliner etc. Buy the DOT approved air line they use for air brakes. It works great but you will have to get the appropriate fittings rather than those miserable metric ones. Also, we have had good luck using the manual air switches also used in the trucking industry rather than the electric ones from ARB. Properly installed, these will accomplish a durable and trouble free system. BTW this also might be a good time to install a York or some other more dependable compressor. Then you won't have to purchase the expensive and only marginally reliable ARB compressor either. Check www.kilbyenterprises.com or www.onboardair.com for some help and ideas for the air system.