Steel City Mods?

[ptddunner]

Hi All, new to the group. Just picked up a new 2025 Explorer ST this past Monday. Super stoked!!!

1) Seems as though one of the top recommended mods is a performance intercooler. What are folks thinking about the Whipple? Or, what others and why?
2) Have any Pittsburgh, PA peeps had this done recently? If so, where & do you recommend them?

Also, looking into the basics like a strut tower brace, rear sway bar & rear diff brace. Welcome to recommendations here as well.

Thank you!

 

[Madisonville ST]

Welcome.

 

[Caster]

Many people on this forum have went with CV Fab intercoolers (including myself). Any brand seems to perform nearly the same so brand loyalty isn't very importand IMO.

Strut braces are really cosmetic only on the Explorer ST. They have been discussed many times on this forum. Many people ugrade the swaybar and seem to like it so that's probabubly a good buy.

I added a AWR diff brace to my 25' and also added a JXB bushing insert and new 12.9, M14 X 2.0 X 130mm bushing bolt. The Steeda diff brace is good as well but it is $$$.

 

[George M]

I also second the CVFab IC. It works just as well as the others but it's not super expensive compared to the others.

 

[rams1919]

I have the CVFab intercooler on both of our STs. They are fantastic. No complaints.

 

[MikeyP]

Get a CVFab intercooler, AFE Rear swap bar, ID.Speed rear diff brace, JXB Diff Bushing Inserts, upgraded diff bolt, and Steeda or Fenfab Subframe Bushing inserts. Do these mods from these brands, then see where you want to go from there. The intercooler is a bit of work so you can do that any time, but all the other items are cheap and super easy to install in your driveway. Those should be the first things you do.

 

[2020FordRaptor]

Hi All, new to the group. Just picked up a new 2025 Explorer ST this past Monday. Super stoked!!!

1) Seems as though one of the top recommended mods is a performance intercooler. What are folks thinking about the Whipple? Or, what others and why?
2) Have any Pittsburgh, PA peeps had this done recently? If so, where & do you recommend them?

Also, looking into the basics like a strut tower brace, rear sway bar & rear diff brace. Welcome to recommendations here as well.

Thank you!

The Whipple unit is a lot more expensive than offerings from CV-Fab or CP-E and they perform the same. Strut towers are just for show. I detail all the parts on my modding guide:

https://explorerst.wordpress.com/2025/03/13/explorer-st-modding-guide/