• Sign Up! To view all forums and unlock additional cool features

    Welcome to the #1 Explorer ST Forum and Explorer ST community dedicated to Explorer ST owners and enthusiasts. Register for an account, it's free and it's easy, so don't hesitate to join the Explorer ST Forum today!


Late 2022 with four bolt subframe?

CareerFiremanGuy

1000 Post Club
Firefighter/EMT
Messages
1,083
Reactions
813
Points
262
Location
USA
Vehicle
2022 Ford Explorer ST
#21
Whole subframe needs to be replaced.
So if one were looking to buy new or used, replacing the subframe shouldn't be a consideration.

Just get the Explorer ST of your choice and spend a few hundred bucks on a diff support if they have the 3 bolt.

For owners to personally replace the subframe with a 4 bolt is more than unreasonable, it literally doesn't make any sense.

And it's also highly unlikely Ford will spend the $1.25 billion dollars necessary to install 4 bolts on the 252,936 effected vehicles.
 

Messages
192
Reactions
125
Points
37
Location
St. Louis
Vehicle
2021 Explorer ST
#22
I have a 2021 4 bolt. Built 11/20. ExSTs with 4 bolt can be found, you just have to look hard.
 

Messages
281
Reactions
92
Points
27
Location
Desert South West
Vehicle
2023 Explorer ST
#23
So if one were looking to buy new or used, replacing the subframe shouldn't be a consideration.

Just get the Explorer ST of your choice and spend a few hundred bucks on a diff support if they have the 3 bolt.

For owners to personally replace the subframe with a 4 bolt is more than unreasonable, it literally doesn't make any sense.

And it's also highly unlikely Ford will spend the $1.25 billion dollars necessary to install 4 bolts on the 252,936 effected vehicles.
I'm replacing my 3 bolt with a 4 bolt after thinking about it for for several months. Just ordered the hardware needed, will pickup the subframe next week. Considered selling it and buying something else, but I don't have any of the major hardware or software problems others have reported, and I really like to SUV. I could probably drive it as is without any issues, but I want it setup correctly. Should cost about 1/2 the price of upgrading to 22" tires and rims, I should not have to do this, but it is what it is, gonna do it and move on.
 

Messages
16
Reactions
0
Points
1
Location
Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
#25
Has been discussed for months already. Ford used the base model rear subframe on many ST’s, with lots of details in a long thread on here:

https://www.explorerst.org/threads/rear-end-damage.2602/

The other two bolts mount vertically behind the pinion on either side.

View attachment 15423
Forgive my ignorance, what exactly does this diagram show? Does this mean that a three bolt is just as good as a four bolts or does this indicate that there actually are four bolts but we can’t see the fourth bolt I’m trying to understand if it’s OK for me to purchase a second ST that is equipped with the three bolt pattern that we see on some of the year 21 and 22 models.
 

Forddealz

New Member
Messages
11
Reactions
2
Points
2
Location
New York, NY, USA
#26
Does anyone know if Ford Explorer 2024 comes with 3 bolts or more? I might need to consider buying an extended warranty just in case.
 

Messages
281
Reactions
92
Points
27
Location
Desert South West
Vehicle
2023 Explorer ST
#27
Forgive my ignorance, what exactly does this diagram show? Does this mean that a three bolt is just as good as a four bolts or does this indicate that there actually are four bolts but we can’t see the fourth bolt I’m trying to understand if it’s OK for me to purchase a second ST that is equipped with the three bolt pattern that we see on some of the year 21 and 22 models.
Bolt HB1 and its mount are missing.
SubFrame.jpg
 

Messages
281
Reactions
92
Points
27
Location
Desert South West
Vehicle
2023 Explorer ST
#28
The right HB1 bolt if you are look under the back of the car.
 

Messages
16
Reactions
0
Points
1
Location
Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
#29
Bolt HB1 and its mount are missing.
View attachment 19078
Ok thank you for clearing this up. Do you or does anyone know if this will be remedied by Ford? I’m not mechanically inclined, why can’t a bolt simply be added by a ford technician? I’m asking all these questions cuz I currently have a ‘21 st but have 4 bolts. I’m looming to get another one since my wife loves the ride and I’ll be traveling more and taking my car with me. I was planning on getting a ‘21 but so far have only seen them with 3 bolts. 2 dealerships out of 10 that I’ve looked at have told me that they can promise me a fix for it and that it would have the missing bolt. Is this even possible?
 

Messages
281
Reactions
92
Points
27
Location
Desert South West
Vehicle
2023 Explorer ST
#30
The bolt can't be added, the subframe mount for the bolt was not built into the subframe so the subframe would have to be replaced with one that has the 4th mount. Yes its possible, the replacement subframe MSRP is $1,914.37, not sure about labor, and mounting hardware. I would insist that they include it in your purchase agreement and replace the subframe before you take possession of it and drive it off the lot. If you are going to have it done, also make sure all 10 subframe bracket bolts are installed, mine has 6.


SubFrame 2.jpg
 

Messages
281
Reactions
92
Points
27
Location
Desert South West
Vehicle
2023 Explorer ST
#32
Do you kn

Do you perhaps know the part number of this 2 bolt subframe?
I plan to go to the dealership tomorrow and verify that which part number is actually a 2 bolt then buy one, will post results then.
 

Messages
158
Reactions
68
Points
27
Location
Pleasant Valley, MO, USA
Vehicle
2022 Explorer ST
#33

Rescue51

New Member
U.S. Army Veteran
Law Enforcement
Messages
14
Reactions
5
Points
2
Location
NJ
Vehicle
2022 Ford Explorer ST
#34
Think the Sub-frame Part number is one of the following...MB5Z5035J or MB5Z5035H
SUBFRAME.jpg
 

Messages
281
Reactions
92
Points
27
Location
Desert South West
Vehicle
2023 Explorer ST
#37
Think the Sub-frame Part number is one of the following...MB5Z5035J or MB5Z5035H
View attachment 19094
Spent about an hour on the phone with my local Ford dealership, they tracked down the "J" version and sent me a picture, it only has one bushing, the "J" version is the correct part for a 23 ST. Too much trouble tracking down and verifying a subframe with 2 diff bushings, bought a Stella brace. Will use the money saved to buy a FP tune.
 

GearHead_1

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,577
Reactions
1,316
Points
262
Location
Utah
Vehicle
Exploder
#38
Spent about an hour on the phone with my local Ford dealership, they tracked down the "J" version and sent me a picture, it only has one bushing, the "J" version is the correct part for a 23 ST. Too much trouble tracking down and verifying a subframe with 2 diff bushings, bought a Stella brace. Will use the money saved to buy a FP tune.
Steeda? I'm not familiar with Stella but I could be behind the times.
 

Messages
281
Reactions
92
Points
27
Location
Desert South West
Vehicle
2023 Explorer ST
#40


Top