On this page Ford Rear Axle Assembly Identification - Page 10 - FORDification.com
What does the NL vs L mean? I expect L is for limited slip so NL is...?
My axle code is S129N which translates to 4.10s on a sterling 10.25 with NL.

 

NL refers to Non Locker.also called open diff,or not LS (limited slip.)

looking there at that link,they are using codes:

L = Locker (course we know ford doesn't use a true locker,its limited slip for practical street use/cornering.they're just using "L" loosely,to identify factory LS = Limited Slip.)

NL = Non Locker

 

Yuppers.. Had to do that research on that one myself last month! I like that link BTW!

 

Yeah that's a pretty great link. I can't take credit for it though. It was on an old thread and I think CudaJim supplied it.

 

Well, good job bringing it back for the rest of us!

 

They did have lockers. Real ones. My F350 has what looks like a detroit locker in the rear and it's factory. It's not a clutch pack type limited slip.
It makes it a real bear trying to turn into my driveway when it's raining sometimes but otherwise I love it. We are on a dirt road.

From what I have read there were two types of lockers in these. One made by Eaton I guess, who owns detroit locker and one made by Ford. Probably the same thing with a different name.

 

they didn't come with lockers from the factory, are you the first owner?

 

It's factory. It talks about them in the service manual too. I'm not the first owner but I do have the paperwork. The original owner ordered it with them and it was built that way. I believe that was the only way you could get lockers till you got into the bigger trucks back then.

 

I will take some pics of the factory unit and post it... Why? Because I actually have one from that specific year, sitting in the bed of my truck completely open and viewable! This is one of the few times I actually have something like this readily available! LOL!

Here ya go..


I am really curious too! I wondered about this, as I have the entire differential assembly I just took out of a 97 F-250 HD with 4.10 gears. My gear tag reads as follows:

S 132 N
4L10 10 2 7030

 

very interesting... i've never heard of a STOCK locker in these trucks

 

thats a pic of a regular diff, not locker or limited slip.

 

Well now... thats interesting.. I am not sure what to say! I am not a gear guru. This is what came out of an axle that had that ID tag on the differential! I have seen the lockers online, and wondered about this.. dunno! Got me!

 

My truck was ordered new with a limited slip differential... never had it opened up to see what it looks like though.

 

So here's another question. My donor has a rear axle code of S128K which translates to 3.55 on a 10.25 sterling but there's no NL or L. So what does that mean? The truck is a 95 250 4x4 XL 5 speed.

 

That makes it an open carrier. The markings on the tag are different from the listing on the fordification site. They only add an L for the limited slip.