Sterling axle

[beaux312]

Any body have any experince with a Sterling 10.25 axle? I got one and would like the low down on gears lockers and disc brake set ups.

 

[Justafordguy]

The one in my F250 works great.;D

 

[Bronco73]

All I can recall is there are two models and the difference was in the pinion, I think. One is better than the other and I can not recall which. It may help you in buying gears and such for the axle.

 

[KyleQ]

They are kind of expensive - I went D70 over the 14B and Sterling.


They are a killer axle - they just have limited gearing and locker selections...

 

[beaux312]

Well let me be clear. Lol wanted to sound like the president. Lol but I have been giving a choice between a Dana80 or a Sterling 10.25 . Whice should I get?

 

[bronconut73]

Dana 80 is "Huge!". I guess you should go with the Sterling. There is a 10.25 vs. 10.50. I believe the bigger one is better but both are such over kill either will be fine. You can get a detroit for them.

 

[bmc69]

I am in the process of putting one under my '78 Bronco at this very moment. But I bought it already set up....so I'm not much help. FWIW..its 4.10 and Tru Trac.

 

[El Kabong]

I've been doing some research on an semi-float Sterling axle I've got here. It is a heavy bugger, about 250 lbs. I have read that the full float version is 310 lbs. Here's some stuff that has been helpful:

Steve83 has a good breakdown of a Sterling tag.


Be aware that the 1st digit can be hidden by the bolt head. See how the "4" is barely visible with the tag off & straightened. This tag is off of a 10.25 from an 87, with 4.10 gears & limited slip.

RuffStuff has disc brake conversion brackets for them. I would guess only for full float axles, but haven't done the research yet.
http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/STER-DISC.html

Discussion on FSB about short pinion vs long pinion Sterlings. http://www.fullsizebronco.com/forum/showthread.php?t=172679

 

[beaux312]

It looks like the Sterling is a 10.25 out of around a 92-98 F350 not pos about the years but it is the O.J. Simpson Bronco body style

 

[beaux312]

I will go see if I can get to the tag, I agree the 80 is way over kill

 

[FRANKO289]

It looks like the Sterling is a 10.25 out of around a 92-98 F350 not pos about the years but it is the O.J. Simpson Bronco body style

NO ..not in FSB ...only in 1985-2011 F250, F350s & 4 door Broncos

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 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.
~~~~~
10.5
1999 Ford revamped their heavy trucks. Including their own Sterling axle. An upgraded 3 pinion differential carrier was added. The differentials 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.The dana 60 looks very similar to the Sterling 10.5
~~~~

10.25 semi float
The semi float variation is less common and was used in F-250 trucks with a lower GVWR (7200) 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 - 2004 trucks, the F-150 7700 offered this axle and the F-250 light duty was discontinued. Gear ratios were 3.73 in 4x4 and either the 3.73 or 4.10 in the two wheel drive models.

 

[Skiddy]

It looks like the Sterling is a 10.25 out of around a 92-98 F350 not pos about the years but it is the O.J. Simpson Bronco body style

my 97 f250 has a sterling 10.25 no problems at all with it, i used to abuse the heck out of it.

 

[68rockcrawler]

Dan Wheeler used one in his build and has lots of info on it. You could look up his 3-link build thread for some good info.

 

[sillyjt]

I got a second gen axle. Going to put disc brakes and lock rite locker in. I want to keep all ford so going to custom make the brackets to attach the calipers. Hope to get that done in next month. I have the third gen axle in my excursion with 205k and no problems so i am happy to go this route with my build.

 

[weasel]

this thread has some good info:

http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=218631

http://www.fourwheeler.com/techarti...06_ford_1025_1050_inch_axle_tips/viewall.html

 

[Amac70]

I had one in my garage for 3 years all i can say is the bastard was huge, made the dana 60 look small. and i think it out wieghted the d60 also. I think it shed a hundred lbs just taking the drums off it.

 

[beaux312]

I have been looking online. I have found there is a good selection of gears and lockers. Someone posted that RuffStuff has disc brake brackets. So I think I will give it a shot. Might try and shave the bottom too.

 

[beaux312]

On my way to start pullin that baby out.

 

[mudstud]

Get r done.

 

[Crewwzin]

I highly recommend NOT shaving that axle. When we got the rig from ponyracer, he had shaved the sterling. I would've had to machine almost 1/2" off the ring gear just to get it in the housing. I ended up just replacing the whole thing. The clearances inside those axles are already tight. A shave job only amplifies the issue. They don't have near the hang down as a 60 or 14B, so I wouldn't even worry about it.