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Rear end damage
- Thread starter Chrispw24
- Start date
Performing the install myself is not an issue, but paying $1200-1500 dollars for a rear subframe that should have been installed at the factory, that I have a problem with. I worked at a Ford dealership from 1988-2008 as a Ford senior master tech, I‘d have to say Ford really f’d us over on this one. Ford will most likely say it was a design change as the 4th bolt was not needed and will not recall the 3 bolt versions, and most likely not put out a TSB on the issue either.
I can see it now, the Ford tech at the dealership calls the hotline and tells the Ford engineer that this is the 3rd Explorer ST that he has had with the broken rear bolt, what is Fords fix for this? The Ford engineer replies “really, this Is the first I’ve heard of this issue”, beside his desk is a box full of broken rear bolts and a 3 bolt rear subframe!!
I can see it now, the Ford tech at the dealership calls the hotline and tells the Ford engineer that this is the 3rd Explorer ST that he has had with the broken rear bolt, what is Fords fix for this? The Ford engineer replies “really, this Is the first I’ve heard of this issue”, beside his desk is a box full of broken rear bolts and a 3 bolt rear subframe!!
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It should absolutely be a recall. How many of these things are out there loaded full of kids? Reading the OP post describing what the car did when it broken is a recipe for disaster for someone pulling out in traffic and hammering down on it. We only hear about the few that have broken on the web from people who are car savvy, pay attention and care to share. Most, I would assume would just have the car towed to the dealer to be fixed under warranty and are more than likely oblivious to what was replaced. Tuned or untuned it appears to be problem that needs to be immediately addressed.
Is there any known failures of stock units with untouched pcm's? Honestly, a tune only causing this breakage is baffling to me. I'm very curious what our 22 is going to come with because I am Not easy on cars
Is there any known failures of stock units with untouched pcm's? Honestly, a tune only causing this breakage is baffling to me. I'm very curious what our 22 is going to come with because I am Not easy on cars
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Got a little more curious about something else here, and had to check the build tag on the subframe since I wanted to see the engineering number (which is different from the part number). On my ST which has the four differential bolts, the number on the tag is MLB5C-5B564-AA as shown below.
Interestingly enough, the engineering number for the base model subframe with the three bolts is the same, although the example I found below is from '19 (and before mine was built). Who knows, maybe Ford did decide at some point to make the change on all models, thinking it would save them some $$$. Ironically, if many of the vehicles come back with damage due to this, it will cost them a lot more in the long run. Still worth looking in to for those with the revised subframe.
The rear bolt(s) torque is 148 lb.ft. (200 Nm).
Interestingly enough, the engineering number for the base model subframe with the three bolts is the same, although the example I found below is from '19 (and before mine was built). Who knows, maybe Ford did decide at some point to make the change on all models, thinking it would save them some $$$. Ironically, if many of the vehicles come back with damage due to this, it will cost them a lot more in the long run. Still worth looking in to for those with the revised subframe.
The rear bolt(s) torque is 148 lb.ft. (200 Nm).
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Something else dawned on me with the intelligent 4WD.. These newer versions are primarily RWD until wheel slip is detected then transfers power to the front wheels. From what I read unless there is wheel slip, power goes directly to the rear. Another thing that comes to mind is wheel Hop. Wheel hop breaks things, a lot of things due to drive train shock. Stabbing throttle, launching it or pedaling it in slippery conditions then gain traction can be horrible when sudden traction is made. It only takes a jolt of tire slip-to-traction to create a massive amount of torque and torque is usually what sheers things off. That sudden torque is what breaks stuff or stress cracks things which most of the time go unnoticed until a catastrophic failure occurs. Then you find it.
The other thing I would like to see is the 2x4 versions coming out and how they are set up.
The other thing I would like to see is the 2x4 versions coming out and how they are set up.
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Nope, you are correct. Excuse my ignorance I completely screwed that up in more ways than one. It was my understanding from some early articles I had read that it was expected that the Platinum and KR were going to have the same power plant with a less power calibration 365/380tq. The ST would have the 400/415tq calibration. Either way I screwed that up when I typed that this morning, my apologies.
We ordered back in sept before the site was updated and information from the dealer and every other source I could find was/is hit or miss with accuracy. I had also been told from a local dealer when we went and drove a few 21's they had on the lot the 3.0L was going to be an option in the Xlt although, I never personally confirmed it. All I know is the 2.3 is a straight up turd and I've been trying to piece all this stuff together on a new (To Me) platform I had zero knowledge about 3 months ago. Thanks for catching that
We ordered back in sept before the site was updated and information from the dealer and every other source I could find was/is hit or miss with accuracy. I had also been told from a local dealer when we went and drove a few 21's they had on the lot the 3.0L was going to be an option in the Xlt although, I never personally confirmed it. All I know is the 2.3 is a straight up turd and I've been trying to piece all this stuff together on a new (To Me) platform I had zero knowledge about 3 months ago. Thanks for catching that
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OP
Thread Starter
#79
OP
Thread Starter
#80
Explorer ST Posts
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My 2020 ST started knocking 2 days ago on morning cold start.
- Latest: ButchsExplorerST
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