The Ford EXP brake light utilizes 1157 and 2357 bulb sizes depending on the specific version of the vehicle. Data for the lighting components covers the period from 1982 to 1988.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The Ford EXP uses two bulb types across its brake light specifications: the 2357 and the 1157. Both are dual-filament bulbs sharing the BAY15d bayonet base and a 12V operating voltage, making them physically interchangeable in terms of socket fitment.
Although the 2357 and 1157 share the same BAY15d base, they are not electrically identical. The 2357 operates at 26.9W/8W while the 1157 operates at 21W/5W, meaning the 2357 produces a noticeably brighter output on both its high and low filaments.
The Ford EXP (1982-1985) uses the 1157 bulb for the brake lights, while the 1986-1988 model years use the 2357. The shift represents a change to a higher-wattage bulb for the same brake light position.
The center high mount stop light (CHMSL) on the Ford EXP is present across the 1986-1988 model years. All three years use T15 wedge-base bulbs, though the specific bulb number differs across each year.
The 1986 CHMSL uses the 921 bulb and the 1988 CHMSL uses the 922 bulb, both rated at 12V and 16W. Despite different ANSI numbers, these two bulbs share identical wattage and the same T15 wedge form factor.
The 1987 CHMSL uses the 912 bulb, which is a variant of the 921. At 12W, the 912 operates at a lower wattage than the 921 and 922, despite sharing the same T15 wedge base and 12V rating.
Because the 912, 921, and 922 all use the T15 wedge base, they are physically compatible with the same socket. However, their wattage differences mean they are not direct electrical equivalents, and substitution across the three CHMSL years would result in output variations.
All bulb types listed in the Ford EXP brake specifications conform to ANSI standards applicable in both the United States and Canada, indicating standardized performance and dimensional tolerances across the range.