What Have You Done To Your Explorer ST Today

How do you feel about those tires? I need to get new ones but the Toyos are so much cheaper than the PS4's.

I gambled on them because I wasn’t sure a 305/40R22 was gonna fit and wanted my gamble to be inexpensive. They fit and I’ve been very pleased with them! When they wear out I might switch over to a 315/35, but haven’t decided. Only have about 5k miles on them so no long term wear feedback yet. Prob wouldn’t rub them in any snow but for dry/rain they have been great.

Finally got around to installing the Steeda RSB. Super easy when you can just pop the mufflers off! This one definitely passed through QC as the centering washers are perfect, there's no movement allowed side to side.

My 3 year old joined me near the end. He tightened all the heat shield bolts and wanted take the differential off to play with it for some reason! Then said he wanted flames to come out because the mufflers were off.

I'm making sure he's into cars so he has no time or money to get in trouble with come high school!

Installed SPD Downpipes since the dealer said it would be after the holidays before they could get me in to have the Left stock downpipe replaced. And they said I would need to leave it with them for a week. A week in a rental wouldn't have been much different in price than the set of SPD pipes...

Ron at Whoosh was awesome in getting them shipped quickly.

The factory downpipe was cracked about 70-80 percent of the way around at the flange. I knew I had an exhaust leak since I could hear it and the cabin would start getting fumes when I came to a stop sign or red light. Swapped them out in the garage on ramps in less than a day. It wasn't too bad and definitely not the hardest thing I have done to a vehicle.

Picked up a sibling for my ST.

Do tell, how and what process?

I read what @UNBROKEN had said about the install and how badly it sucked. Once again, he was right because it did suck. If I had someone that would do it for a relatively low price that wasn't swamped with work, I would have paid to have them done. I can use my Wife's Flex for a day or 2 but don't like leaving her with the kids and no ride and I really don't like driving that pig of a vehicle.

I used a set of Harbor Freight ½ drive wobble extension and a swivel with a bit of electrical tape on it so it doesn’t flop around and the socket on the swivel. I think a high-quality swivel socket would have made it easier but I left it at work. The wobble extensions gave a nice arc that made it to the nut to break them loose then I used the craftsman set to get them the rest of the way off. Going back in was just as simple.

The passenger side sucked, just like everyone said. I lowered the transmission at the crossmember and it helped some. I took several breaks during the passenger side out of frustration since I had problems seeing the outer nut and couldn’t get my arm up there to feel around for it… So, I recruited my wife and after a few minutes she managed to get her finger on the nut. She asked if she could do anything else and I suggested she can put the socket on it if she could. She did. She volunteered to help since she likes working on vehicles too. After that I finagled my wobble extension setup to the socket and that was that for removal. There are several little steps like O2 sensors and that stupid, and in my opinion, pointless bracket that the downpipes bolt to. Install is easier since the cats don’t seem to be as long or large. I had 2 issues that aren’t that big of a deal. The first was the non-threaded brackets on the SPD downpipes that I had to go find nuts and bolts to fit. The second issue was that the exhaust clamps (both sides) on the stock exhaust would not cinch down tight enough to secure the stock exhaust to the SPD downpipes. I tightened it down so much that the stock clamp bolts broke. Neither of these were issues since I have nuts and bolts everywhere in the garage and Advance auto stocks a decent selection of exhaust clamps.

I am running it with the stock exhaust but I think there is a difference. I can hear more of a whooshing sound at the rear and with the windows down there is more whistle. Drove it to work this morning and everything felt fine and didn’t sound much different. When in the throttle you can hear a difference. I am going to keep the stock exhaust since my last couple of vehicles had louder exhausts and v8s and I feel its time to have something quiet.

Minor detail stuff today. I always disliked the mismatched hardware with the Steeda Strut Brace (new bolts in front, factory Ford bolts in rear) so I bought all titanium bolts from Acer Racing, M8x35 for the rear, M8x45 to replace the Steeda bolts, then a set of black-coated stainless steel washers. Noticed by very few but an improvement to me.

Next was new titanium lug nuts from ChasingJs. I had their burnished lugs previously (mostly blue/purple) but a friend wanted them for his Mustang and ChasingJs was sold out of them, so I sold him those and bought a set of their raw titanium lugs. The burnished looked nice, but I prefer these. And it looks nicer IMO than the usual black people go with.

Ordered some emblem overlays from etsy. Used the same guy for emblems on my f150 and they fit great so hope these will fit great as well

Link? Or seller?

https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/1011929686/explorer-2020-2021-3pc-emblem-overlay?ref=share_v3_lx

20%ceramic, and mid smoke on the lights

Welcome to the forum

Got it back today, had the whipple cooler and H&R springs put on . Ups brought my HP Tuners from zfg as well.

trying to figure out what to do about a litte change on the exhaust now ( just for some extra decibels )

There are so many options for that as I'm sure you already know. I was very happy with the system that aFe is creating and will be releasing soon. Thermal is another good system. For me, those are the only 2 options for what I am looking for. Some people are happy with the Gibson axle-back system. I want to get rid of the garbage flex pipes that ford gave us which is another reason why I'm going with the complete catback system.

Thought the damn thing was haunted...

Was detailing various parts & while working on the front end & under hood.. tail gate kept opening. Turns out the dog was walking under the back end & activating the hands free doodad.
Then when I was cleaning back there I did it myself 3 or 4 times...

Heres two terrible & dirty pics i took same day i got it back from whipple and spring install. Im happy with the drop. Soon as i get back from vacation ill get to deal the zfg tune .