Yes it is 5 lug and reads "cobra" on the brakesDid it have 5 lugs and cobra brakes?
Thanks! And where is the date code located? I found the first casting number on the front of the center on the opposite side the fill plug hole.F0ZW-AAD = originally engineered for 1990 (F0) Mustang (Z), Axle and Driveshaft engineering department (W), release level AAD
There is a date code cast into the differential also and that will tell you when the housing was actually cast.
The hardware looks oem from what I can tell. And when you turn one axle by hand, the other turns the same way telling me that it also does have the trak-lok carrier.Technically, of you took an 8.8 rear from a 1986, and put disk brakes from a 1998 cobra on it, it would be pretty difficult to tell it apart from a true 1998 cobra rear.
At that point you are looking at hardware to see if it was factory installed or looks like someone installed it after the fact.
F0zw would suggest a 1990 rear axle