Rear Drive Axle and Differential

Ford 10.50-Inch Axle, Single Rear Wheel 

Fig 1: Identifying Rear Drive Axle And Differential - Single Rear Wheel

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

Ford 10.50-Inch Axle, Dual Rear Wheel 

Fig 2: Identifying Rear Drive Axle And Differential - Dual Rear Wheel

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

Rear Axle - 10.50-Inch Ring Gear, Traction-Lok® 

Fig 3: Identifying Rear Axle - 10.50-Inch Ring Gear, Traction-Lok®

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

Fig 4: Rear Drive Axle/Differential Component Description

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

Rear Drive Axle/Differential - Ford 10.50-Inch Ring Gear 

Fig 5: Identifying Rear Drive Axle/Differential - Ford 10.50-Inch Ring Gear Components

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

Fig 6: Rear Drive Axle/Differential Component Description

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

The Ford 10.50 inch rear axle assembly is an integral type housing, hypoid gear design with the centerline of the ring gear set below the pinion centerline.

The hypoid ring gear and pinion consists of a 10.50 inch diameter ring gear and an overhung drive pinion. The pinion is positioned by selected pinion shims and supported by 2 opposed tapered roller bearings. Pinion bearing preload is adjusted by the pinion nut and a collapsible spacer.

The rear axle housing consists of a cast center section with 2 steel tubes and a stamped steel rear cover. The differential housing cover uses a silicone sealant as a gasket.

The differential case is a 1- or 2-piece design depending upon the application. The differential pinion shaft in the 1-piece differential case design (2-pinion) is retained with a threaded bolt. The 2-piece differential case 3-pinion spider is retained by the case halves which are bolted together.

The rear axle drive pinion receives its power from the engine through the transmission and driveshaft. The drive pinion rotates the differential case through engagement with the ring gear, which is bolted to the case outer flange.

Inside the 2-piece differential case, 3 differential pinion gears are mounted on a 3-post shaft. Inside the 1-piece differential case, 2 differential pinion gears are mounted on a straight shaft. These differential pinion gears are engaged with the differential side gears to which the axle shafts are splined. Therefore, as the differential case turns, it rotates the axle shafts and rear wheels. When it is necessary for one wheel and axle shaft to rotate faster than the other, the faster turning differential side gear causes the differential pinion gears to roll on the slower turning differential side gear to allow differential action between the 2 axle shafts.

The 10.50 inch rear axle uses Motorcraft SAE 75W-140 High Performance Rear Axle Lubricant XY-75W140-QL (vehicles with the trailer towing option or 4:10 ratio) meeting Ford specification WSL-M2C192-A.