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Simple, Stupid axle question

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Old Jul 1, 2010 | 10:32 PM
  #1  
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Simple, Stupid axle question

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.
 
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Old Jul 1, 2010 | 11:00 PM
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From: Mi'kma'ki
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
 
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Old Jul 1, 2010 | 11:05 PM
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Yuppers.. Had to do that research on that one myself last month! I like that link BTW!
 
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Old Jul 1, 2010 | 11:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Midwest Dually
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.
 
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Old Jul 2, 2010 | 02:28 AM
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Well, good job bringing it back for the rest of us!
 
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Old Jul 2, 2010 | 07:13 AM
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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.
 
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Old Jul 2, 2010 | 08:23 AM
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Originally Posted by RRranch
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?
 
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Old Jul 2, 2010 | 09:41 AM
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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.
 
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Old Jul 2, 2010 | 10:25 AM
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Gears!

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
 

Last edited by Midwest Dually; Jul 2, 2010 at 10:52 AM. Reason: added pic
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Old Jul 2, 2010 | 12:48 PM
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very interesting... i've never heard of a STOCK locker in these trucks
 
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Old Jul 2, 2010 | 01:19 PM
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thats a pic of a regular diff, not locker or limited slip.
 
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Old Jul 2, 2010 | 01:31 PM
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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!
 
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Old Jul 2, 2010 | 02:21 PM
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My truck was ordered new with a limited slip differential... never had it opened up to see what it looks like though.
 
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Old Jul 2, 2010 | 05:35 PM
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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.
 
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Old Jul 2, 2010 | 06:14 PM
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Originally Posted by redman84
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.
 
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