The Ford Sterling 10-1/2" Rear Full-Floating Axle was introduced in 1999 along with the new Super Duty F250 and F350. It shares some parts with the similar 10-1/4" Sterling Rear Axle which Ford used from 1985 to 1997 in the F250 and F350. The 10-1/2" Sterling is equipped with disc brakes (with the possible exception of some very early production F250 or export models). This axle is used on Excursions, F250, and F350 Single Rear Wheel (SRW) trucks. The only dual wheel configuration we have seen is on F350 duallys with the small gas V8 engine. Both open and limited slip differentials were available.
Ford Sterling 10-1/2" Rear Axles had a number of major engineering changes effective with the 2011 model year. While some parts carried over from 2010, most 2011-up 10-1/2" Ford rear axle parts are not interchangeable with 2010 and older axle.
Ford 10.5" full-floating rear axles were the only available axle for 2000-2005 Excursions plus 1999-2016 Ford F-250 and Single Rear Wheel (SRW) F-350 trucks. A Dual Rear Wheel Version (DRW) was also used for some gas engine F350 models.
Precise identification of Excursion and 1999-2004 F-250/F350 axles is by axle tags found on the differential cover and/or a decal on the right axle beam. Ford assigns an axle code to each axle configuration. A typical Axle Code will have 5 digits and look something like this: V414C. The axle tags also provide information on the axle ratio, limited slip differentials, and lubricant requirements. 2005 and newer axles will also have an assigned axle code, but for these years, Ford specific parts lookup is usually based on the truck serial number (Vehicle Identification Number or VIN).
