Introduction

Here’s how to identify the rear axle in your 1983-2011 Ford Ranger from the axle tag.

Identifying Your Axle From The Axle Tag:

You can identify which axle you have by the tag attached to the inspection cover.

Here is an example of an axle tag:

Ford 7.5 & 8.8 Inch Axle Tag & Door Codes

Looking at that tag, you can see the gear ratio stamped on the lower left, and the axle size (ring gear diameter) stamped in the bottom middle.

Ford 7.5 axle tag

So, looking at the axle tag above, you can see it’s a 3.73 gear ratio in a 7.5-inch axle.

And looking at the axle tag above, you can see it’s a 3.73 gear ratio with a limited slip in an 8.8-inch axle.

Axle Codes (Door Sticker):

Rear axle codes can be found on the Safety Standard Certification label attached to the left driver’s side door lock post.  The code appears as a number or letter/number combination in the ‘Axle’ column of the label.

Safety Standard Certification label AKA Federal Sticker

If you look at the ‘AXLE’ section on the label above, you’ll see that this Ranger has a ‘F7’ axle code. Using the chart below, we know that this axle is a 7.5-Inch axle with a 4.10 limited slip.

Axle codes for Ranger, Bronco II, Explorer and Aerostar (included because 4.10 gears and limited slips are more common than you’d expect)

Ranger
Code Description  Capacity Ratio
72 open 6-7/8″ 2200 3.08
74 open 6-7/8″ 2200 3.45
82 open 7.5″ 2750 3.08
84 open 7.5″ 2750 3.45
85  open 7.5″  2750  3.55
86 open 7.5″ 2750 3.73
87 open 7.5″ 2750 4.10
 89 (1992-1998)  open 7.5″  4.10
 89 (1999-2001)  open 7.5″  4.56
91 open 8.8″ 2750 3.27
92 open 8.8″ 2750 3.08
95 open 8.8″ 2750 3.55
96 open 8.8″ 2750 3.73
97 open 8.8″ 2750 4.10
98 open 8.8″ 2750 4.56
F4 L/S  7.5″ 2750 3.45
F5 L/S  7.5″ 2750 3.55
F6 L/S  7.5″ 2750 3.73
F7 L/S  7.5″ 2750 4.10
 K6  L/S  8.8″  4.10
R5 L/S  8.8″ 2750 3.55
R6 L/S  8.8″ 2750 3.73
R7 L/S  8.8″ 2750 4.10
R8 L/S  8.8″ 2750 4.56
(Note 4.56 geared axles ’99-up are 31-spline)
 

Bronco II
Code  Description  Capacity  Ratio
42 open  7.5″ 2640 3.45
44 open  7.5″ 2640 3.73
47 open  7.5″ 2640 4.10
D2 L/S    7.5″ 2640 3.45
D4 L/S    7.5″ 2640 3.73
D7 L/S    7.5″ 2640 4.10

 

Explorer
Code Description Capacity  Ratio
41 Open 8.8″ 3200 3.27
 42  Open 8.8″  3200  4.10
43 Open 8.8″ 3200 3.08
44 Open 8.8″ 3200 3.73
45 Open 8.8″ 3200 3.55
 46  Open 8.8″  3200  3.73
D1 L/S   8.8″ 3200 3.27
D2 L/S   8.8″ 3200 4.10
D4 L/S   8.8″ 3200 3.73
D5 L/S  8.8″ 3200 3.55
L73 L/S  8.8″ 3200 3.73
L – Limited Slip DifferentialC – Conventional Differential

 

Aerostar
Code Description  Capacity Ratio
22 open  7.5″ 2950 4.10
23 open  7.5″ 2950 3.45
24 open  7.5″ 2950 3.73
25 open  8.8″ 2950 3.27
29 open  8.8″ 2950 3.55
B2 L/S    7.5″ 2950 4.10
B4 L/S    7.5″ 2950 3.73
B5 L/S    8.8″ 2950 3.55
B9 L/S    8.8″ 2950 3.55
(Note: Aerostars with axle codes starting with “1” are Spicer/Dana 30 axles with Aluminum housings)

 

About The Author:

Founder / Administrator at  | Staff Profile

Jim Oaks is the founder of TheRangerStation.com, the longest-running Ford Ranger resource online since 1999. With over 25 years of hands-on experience building and modifying Ford Rangers — including magazine-featured builds like Project Transformer — Jim has become one of the most trusted authorities in the Ford Ranger off-road and enthusiast space. In 2019, he was loaned a Ranger FX4 by Ford Motor Company to test and document across the TransAmerica Trail. Jim continues to inspire and guide Ranger owners around the world.