The Sterling 10.5 axle is an automotive axle manufactured by Visteon

Visteon

Visteon is one of the world's largest suppliers of automotive parts. The company formed in 1997 and spun off from the Ford Motor Company in 2000. In 2005, Visteon moved to new headquarters in Van Buren Township, Michigan...

  at the Sterling Axle Plant in Sterling Heights, MI. It was first used in model year 1985 Ford trucks. The axle was developed to replace the Dana 60

Dana 60

The Dana/Spicer Model 60 is an automotive axle manufactured by Dana Corp. and used in OEM "heavy duty" pickup applications by Chevrolet, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ford. There are rear axle and four wheel drive front steering versions of the Dana 60. It can be readily identified by its straight axle...

 and Dana 70

Dana 70

The Dana/Spicer Model 70 is an automotive axle manufactured by Dana Corp. and has been used in OEM heavy duty applications by Chevrolet, Dodge, and Ford. It can be identified by its straight axle tubes, 10 bolt asymmetrical cover, and a "70" cast in to the housing and is visually similar to the...

. The Sterling 10.5 axle is currently only made as a full floating axle.

General Specifications

• Ring gear measures 10.5".
• 35 Spline axle shafts with a 1.5" diameter
• Ratios 3.08 to 4.30. Current production ratios offered are 3.73, 4.10 and 4.30
• Since ca. 2005, the gears are formed by the face hob process, formerly face milled process.

10.25

Originally the axle was made with a ring gear that measured 10.25' until it was upgraded 1999 to the 10.50 for the Ford Super Duty

Ford Super Duty

For the 1999 model year, Ford shifted the F-250 and F-350 truck lines to a design mechanically and cosmetically distinct from that of the F-150. The F-350 was not available for 1998, while the F-250 was available that year with the F-150's body...

 trucks. This axle came with drum brakes. The first version was made 1985 to 1992. A second revision included a stronger pinion and was made 1993-1997.

The 10.25 is still made. It appears the same as the 10.5 externally, except it uses a one piece differential case with 2 pinion gears.

10.25 Semi-float

The semi float variation is less common and was used in F-250 trucks with a lower GVWR. This stopped in 1993 model year trucks until the generation change. The 10th generation Ford F-150 offered this axle in the light duty F-250 trucks from 1997-1999. For model year 2000 trucks, the F-150 offered this axle and the F-250 light duty was discontinued.

10.50

1999 Ford revamped their heavy trucks. Including their own Sterling axle. An upgraded 3 pinion differential carrier was added. The differentails are interchangeable between the two variations. The new axle also came with disc brakes and a unique 8x170mm metric lug pattern. Options and features remained unchanged until model year 2011 trucks. 2011 models with this axle have the option of being equipped with an electronic locking differential.