How do I determine from an inspection whether the front axle is locking on my 1987 E-350 4 x 4?

 

This is the 87-96 light truck forum but, what do you mean by locking?

 

I think he means limited slip.

Ford didn't offer a "locking" differential, but if the first digit of the AXLE code on your door sticker is a letter, your rear axle is probably limited slip. To know about the front, you have to find the axle tag (if it's still there) and look at the second position on the second line - if it's a space (like "3 54"), it's open. If it's an L (like "3L54"), it's L/S.

 

Steve, (or anybody else who might know) is there any way to test the front diff by jacking the front off the ground and turning the tires? I know we used to check the rears by spinning one tire and if the other tire went opposite way it was open and if it went the same way it was a L/S. Does that work the same way on the fronts? I ask because my front axle sticker has a nice thick coat of undercoating on it.

 

There isn't an identification tag on the front axle, just that sticker. I can almost guarantee you the front axle is just an open differential. Very rare that ford put those in. But to check I think you can lock 1 of the hubs and try to turn the driveshaft. If it turns it's open if it doesn't than it's a limited slip. Otherwise, you jack both tires off the ground like you said, works the same way it's still a differential.

 

Right, I was referring to limited slip.
The rear has the "L" in it but I couldn"t find anything on the front. When you refer to a "sticker" on the front, are you refering to a stick on /glue on?
I didn't/don't think that Ford made a 4x4 Econoline in '87. Mine has an additional door frame manufacturing tag for Pathfinder. Mine was purchased by the State of Hawaii for use as a rough country ambulance and I thought the front might be limited slip. (Pathfinder is out of business).

 

MRWIZARD: My 96 has a factory L/S in both axles. It has the L on the sticker. She pulls good and I get some slight driveline binding in tight turns at creeper speed. But it is well worth it for the traction.

If I recall with the manual hubs locked, transfer in nuetral and just one wheel lifted off the ground you couldnt spin the tire. I have tried it with both off the ground but (sorry) can't remember what happened. I would do the test again but I am about 10,000 miles away from my truck. Stuck in South Korea. I'll be home at the end of August. Ask me then....:

Maybe take some gasoline or acetone or similar. Maybe even cigarette lighter fluid. Soak the rag and hold it against the sticker to soften the undercoating. (Any place that does undercoating has the stuff to get it off). Might be harder once it's dried. Or spray it on from a squirt bottle. And slowly wash/wipe away the coating. Maybe use a razor blade to get thru the thicker stuff. Might work. My truck was never undercoated and the sticker looks like it was put on last week.

 

The sticker wasn't used until ~'91-up, but it's a LARGE white & yellow sticker upside down on the back of the passenger axle beam. I've never seen one that indicated LS, so Chris, I'd LOVE to see a pic of yours if you remember when you get back to it.

I think a solvent would probably take the ink off the sticker, so I wouldn't use it first. First, I'd try GoJo creme hand cleaner - much milder, but still very effective.

mrwizard
Yes, you can lock both hubs and it'll behave just like the rear axle. If it's a good LS, the wheels will try to turn together.

 

Steve 83. I do have a nice digital. I should still remember this thread by the end of August. I'll post a picture of that L/S front axle sticker. I can get photos on to my computer. Just haven't learned to post them on a page. Is there somwhere on the FTE site that explains how to do that? How about the thumb nail pic I see by peoples names?

Chris

 

Check the FAQ section, and you can mark this page in your "favorite places" file on your browser.

 

Superford hosts pics, but it's sort of slow to navigate. Go to the "Registry" and create an account. My signature takes you to mine. Once you have a pic ul'ed there, you can copy its address by right-clicking and selecting Properties, then you can put the address between IMG tags in a post. If you create a 50x50 pixel JPG & ul it, you can use it as your avatar (pic under your name).

 

The front L/S was part of the snow plow package. Don't know if it came any other way. I found one at pick your part and it did have the L on the metal tag. To bad it was thrashed. I'll keep looking, would be a nice upgrade.

 

Steve 83: Postin pics Sounds pretty straight forward just, more to remember come August. I just read about your Bronco. Reminds me of that Johny Cash song when he sneaks out all those cadillac parts from the factory over the years and then puts em all together. Looks like a solid vehicle and sounds like it gets tested on a daily basis.

 

Everyone says that.

Back on topic...
Check out this thread.