Differential Brace for 2025 ST

[72-C10]

I was looking to get a Steeda Differential Brace for my 2025 ST but then read that people had issues after running them for a while. Mainly problems with the rear Differential itself as it seems it might be causing problems with alignment.

I know Ford changed the bolt and maybe something else with the 2025 models. I know they are only 1 bolt but has anyone actually seen and issues with the 1 bolt on the 25 models? Everyone is saying a brace is needed but I can't find any failures with the 25's, only other years.

 

[UNBROKEN]

Well the 25’s haven’t been out long and you can’t tune them so nobody is putting any power on that bolt yet. Once they do…you’ll see the same thing. Nothing changed from older models.
And ID Speed is the best brace on the market.

 

[2020FordRaptor]

It most likely isn’t any better than prior years. If you’re launching the car at all, or even mildly drive hard you’ll need a diff brace. The ID-Speed unit is the best one.

 

[72-C10]

Well the 25’s haven’t been out long and you can’t tune them so nobody is putting any power on that bolt yet. Once they do…you’ll see the same thing. Nothing changed from older models.
And ID Speed is the best brace on the market.

It is said they changed the 1 bolt on the 25's

https://fordauthority.com/2024/10/all-2025-ford-explorer-models-have-one-rear-axle-bolt/

Again, everyone is saying a Differential Brace is needed but no documented issues with the 25's. I was not referring to ones that have tunes that produce more HP then stock as then you are past what it was designed to handle. I just want to see if with stock HP a brace or any improvement is needed.

 

[72-C10]

I just looked at the ID-Speed and it says it is not available for 2025's? I'm not opposed to adding a Brace if needed, but I have heard of issues after adding a brace and I don't want to potentially cause an issue if they are not really needed on the 25's.

 

[2020FordRaptor]

I just looked at the ID-Speed and it says it is not available for 2025's? I'm not opposed to adding a Brace if needed, but I have heard of issues after adding a brace and I don't want to potentially cause an issue if they are not really needed on the 25's.

What issues are you talking about? I’ve never seen a rear differential cause problems (other than the mounting bolts snapping on the Steeda unit). They’re definitely needed on the 2025s if you even do the slightest hard driving. The ID-Speed unit will fit, nothing changed for the 2025s rear subframe compared to prior years.

 

[72-C10]

In this post people talk about the Diff brace and the issue they have had. There are others like this in other forums.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/fordexplorerstforum/posts/2287593151641316/?_rdr

I was looking for documented proof of issues with 25's as I can't find anywhere expect for people saying "it is needed".

 

[72-C10]

What issues are you talking about? I’ve never seen a rear differential cause problems (other than the mounting bolts snapping on the Steeda unit). They’re definitely needed on the 2025s if you even do the slightest hard driving. The ID-Speed unit will fit, nothing changed for the 2025s rear subframe compared to prior years.

I can't post links here it seems but if you google it there are many people that have had issues after installing Braces.

The 25's have been out since last summer so I would think there would be people with issues by now. I was looking for documented proof of issues with 25's as I can't find anywhere expect for people just saying "it is needed".

 

[2020FordRaptor]

In this post people talk about the Diff brace and the issue they have had. There are others like this in other forums.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/fordexplorerstforum/posts/2287593151641316/?_rdr

I was looking for documented proof of issues with 25's as I can't find anywhere expect for people saying "it is needed".

That problem isn’t with the diff brace, that’s with the crappy differential bushings that Steeda offers. Like I said, I’ve never seen a diff brace cause problems, except for the Steeda ones. Also, a lot of people have already installed a diff brace on their 25, it is definitely needed because if the 1-bolt rear end. You want documented proof, just search 1-bolt failure Explorer ST.

 

[72-C10]

That problem isn’t with the diff brace, that’s with the crappy differential bushings that Steeda offers. Like I said, I’ve never seen a diff brace cause problems, except for the Steeda ones. Also, a lot of people have already installed a diff brace on their 25, it is definitely needed because if the 1-bolt rear end. You want documented proof, just search 1-bolt failure Explorer ST.

Yes, I have searched but only found documented proof for ST's prior to 25. I have seen none with the 25's after Ford said they changed the design/components.

 

[UNBROKEN]

Yes, I have searched but only found documented proof for ST's prior to 25. I have seen none with the 25's after Ford said they changed the design/components.

Dude…then don’t run one.

 

[72-C10]

Dude…then don’t run one.

Pretty unhelpful comment. I have said I would install one if needed but since people have said they had issues with them installed I don't want to cause a problem for something that is not needed. Pretty common sense I think. All I asked was if there was documented proof of issues with the 25 ST. All I got was the same "it is needed" with zero proof there are issues with the 25 ST.

 

[GearHead_1]

I think the point others have been trying to make here is that essentially nothing has changed with the rear end set up for 2025. If you launch hard frequently with a 2020-2024 and have a single bolt rear end, you stand the chance of breaking the bolt. So if nothing has changed on the 2025 model year.....

If you aren't putting your car to the task, you'll probably be fine leaving things as they came from the factory. If you launch it hard, frequently with a one bolt set up, there is a possibility it will break. The year of manufacturer isn't the determining factor here. No one can tell you, "yes you need it or no you don't", silly to think otherwise. Any of us that run one are hedging against the possibility of it breaking, and you would be too. I guess what I'm trying to say is, this one requires you to read between the lines and come up with a solution that best meets your needs.

 

[72-C10]

I think the point others have been trying to make here is that essentially nothing has changed with the rear end set up for 2025. If you launch hard frequently with a 2020-2024 and have a single bolt rear end, you stand the chance of breaking the bolt.

If you aren't putting your car to the task, you'll probably be fine. If you launch it hard regularly with a one bolt set up, there is a possibility it will break. The year of manufacturer is the determining factor here. I guess this one requires you to read between the lines and come up with a solution that best meets your needs.

I posted the article claiming that Ford made changes to the setup saying they fixed the issues with the one bolt setup. That was my reason asking if anyone that has a 25 had experienced any issues with their one bolt.

 

[Dale5403]

In this post people talk about the Diff brace and the issue they have had. There are others like this in other forums.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/fordexplorerstforum/posts/2287593151641316/?_rdr

I was looking for documented proof of issues with 25's as I can't find anywhere expect for people saying "it is needed".

This Facebook post is about the Steeda pinion bushings being the issue, not the differential brace.
I have seen one post on Facebook where a dealer denied warranty on a cracked diff cover because the person had a dif brace on.

 

[72-C10]

This Facebook post is about the Steeda pinion bushings being the issue, not the differential brace.
I have seen one post on Facebook where a dealer denied warranty on a cracked diff cover because the person had a dif brace on.

The initial post is about the bushings, but in the comments people that had installed the brace said they had issues as well. There are others posts with people saying they installed just brace and had problems. I had thought Steeda was the brace to get but it looks like there might be better options out there.

 

[Dale5403]

The initial post is about the bushings, but in the comments people that had installed the brace said they had issues as well. There are others posts with people saying they installed just brace and had problems. I had thought Steeda was the brace to get but it looks like there might be better options out there.

I'm sorry but I don't buy what you are selling. Yes, some have a diff brace on but every one blamed the pinion bushings.
Go back and read the comments again and keep an open mind about the real issue.

 

[UNBROKEN]

Pretty unhelpful comment. I have said I would install one if needed but since people have said they had issues with them installed I don't want to cause a problem for something that is not needed. Pretty common sense I think. All I asked was if there was documented proof of issues with the 25 ST. All I got was the same "it is needed" with zero proof there are issues with the 25 ST.

Then go back and read post #2 again.
What else do you want? It’s not that difficult to understand.

 

[72-C10]

Then go back and read post #2 again.
What else do you want? It’s not that difficult to understand.

Yea, I read your comment. You saying "you can’t tune them so nobody is putting any power on that bolt yet". Never did I ask if a brace was needed if I increased the horsepower. Of course if you increase the horsepower over OEM you can expect to have to issues with OEM components that were not designed to handle that power.

Maybe read my first post. I think my question was pretty easy to understand.

I can see I will only get speculation with my question so I will move on.

 

[GearHead_1]

I posted the article claiming that Ford made changes to the setup saying they fixed the issues with the one bolt setup. That was my reason asking if anyone that has a 25 had experienced any issues with their one bolt.

If I read it correctly, the article you posted indicated that the changes were made to the '22 model year, not for the '25 model year.

As stated in that article:

...So, it still looks the same, but it’s a different setup. The upgraded one bolt took place for mid-2022 MY.” ...

I am making an assumption here because I don't have a '24 and '25 in front of me to compare but I think your '25 would look like the '24. There were no doubt some running changes in this mess but I can't tell you when things changed across the board from a given build date.

They started with a different bolt and then later a different bushing. Plenty of issues were reported after those changes. In essence, the '25 model year has the changes (re-designed bushing, better bolt) that earlier models received during recall and I assume during the build, but still had problems. I read this as improvement, but not a redesign or real change.

This thread has weaved back and forth a bit on the discussion between pinion bushings and the differential brace. You specifically asked about the differential brace in your initial post, and my reply was in reference to that. I'm not trying to pick on you here, but I'll restate the same thing I mentioned earlier. This one requires you to read between the lines and come up with a solution that best meets your needs.