Mustang II Axle Identification

The two axles are easy to tell apart. Looking at the axle from the rear of the car, if the center section has a cover with bolts around the circumference, it is the 6 3/4" axle. If there are no visible bolts from the rear, it is an 8" axle.

The following descriptions are from the Ford Shop Manuals. I have left the 9" references intact since this is a popular swap for cars that have severely modified engines with much more power than the stock engines.

The following axle identification is based on the axle tag located on the axle, if you have the code from the door tag (Certification label) you can look up your axle in our code reference section.

Description:

Integral Carrier Axle

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

The semi-floating axle shafts are retained in the housing by ball bearings and a bearing retainer at the axle housing outer ends.

The differential assembly is mounted on two opposed tapered roller bearings. The bearings are retained in the housing by removable caps. Differential bearing preload and drive gear backlash is adjusted by nuts located behind each differential bearing cup.

The drive pinion assembly is mounted on two opposed tapered roller bearings. Pinion bearing preload is adjusted by a collapsible spacer on the pinion shaft. Pinion and ring gear tooth contact is adjusted by shims between the rear bearing cone and the pinion gear.

A cover on the rear of the differential housing provides access for inspection and removal and installation of the differential assembly and drive pinion.

An identification tag is attached to one of the rear cover-to-housing retaining bolts.

Removable Carrier Axle

The rear axle is of the banjo housing, hypoid gear-type using an 8, 8-3/4, or 9-inch ring gear, in which the centerline of the pinion is mounted below the centerline of the ring gear (Fig. I). The 9-inch ring gear axle features a single sensor (Sure-Track) system. The Sure- Track rotor unit is located on the rear axle companion flange, with the sensor mounted in the pinion bearing retainer. The retainer to carrier attaching stud (in the 10 o'clock position) holds the wiring harness bracket.

The pinion gear and the pinion bearings are assembled in a pinion retainer, which is bolted to the carrier. The pinion is straddle mounted; that is, supported by bearings both in front of and to the rear of the pinion gear. Two opposed tapered roller bearings support the pinion shaft in front of the pinion gear with a collapsible spacer. A straight roller (pilot) bearing supports the pinion shaft at the rear of the pinion gear. Pinion and ring gear tooth contact is adjusted by adding or removing shims from between the pinion retainer and the carrier housing.

The differential assembly is mounted on two opposed tapered roller bearings, which are retained in the carrier by removable caps. The entire carrier assembly is bolted to the axle housing. Ball bearing assemblies (rear wheel bearings) are pressed onto the outer ends of the axle shafts and set in the outer ends of the axle housing.

Certain vehicles are equipped with tapered roller bearings, with which a different type of oil seal is used. These bearings support the semi-floating axle shafts at the outer ends. The inner ends of the shafts spline to the differential side gears. Bearing retainer plates hold the shafts in the housing. The left and right axle shafts are not interchangeable, the left shaft being shorter than the right. An identification tag is secured to the axle assembly by one of the carrier-to-housing bolts.

Traction-Lok

The Traction-Lok differential employs a multiple disc clutch to control differential action. The side gear mounting distance is controlled by 9 shims; 4 steel, 4 friction, and one composite plate (steel on one side, friction material on the other). These shims are stacked on the clutch hub and along with 4 ear guides are housed in the differential cover. Also located in the differential case, between the side gears, is a one-piece pre-load plate and block and four calibrated pre-load springs, which apply an initial force to the clutch pack. Additional clutch capacity is derived from the side gear thrust loads. The four friction plates are splined to the clutch hub which in turn is splined to the left axle-shaft, and the eared steel plates are dogged to the case; thus, the clutch is always engaged.

Identification Tags

1974 Axle Tag Codes

1975-1976 Axle Tag Codes

1977 Axle Tag Codes

1978 Axle Tag Codes

Notes:
Differential Type C2=Conventional (open) 2 pinion, T2 = Traction-Lok 2 pinion.
All data, images and descriptive text from Ford 1974-1978 Car Shop Manuals.
Editorial comments and layout are my own.
Due to mid-year production changes or errors in the manuals, it is likely there were combinations other than what is listed here.
The tables supplied here are listings for the particular axle style most likely to be found in a Mustang II. Due to Ford listing multiple car models together, some of the axles listed may actually be for other Ford car models.

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Lee Lafountain
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