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What Have You Done To Your Explorer ST Today

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The strut tower brace is 100% cosmetic. That’s why the OEM is so flimsy.


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Whatever you say. Not starting this argument again. Felt a big difference handling turns.
Enuff said!


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East Freetown, MA
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Whatever you say. Not starting this argument again. Felt a big difference handling turns.
Enuff said!


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LOL No argument! Facts are facts. Do the research and find out where the actual bracing is.
 

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2022 Ford F250 Tremor
Got the '25 back from getting ceramic coated and window tint.
 

Cdubya

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LOL No argument! Facts are facts. Do the research and find out where the actual bracing is.
Where are the facts? It's all guesswork! Sure the firewall is close but how stiff is it really? it's a sheet of steel. I'd say a stiff strut brace can't hurt.... it's just not a mod you can definitely say made a huge difference--and that's true for most cars.
 

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East Freetown, MA
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Where are the facts? It's a guesswork! Sure the firewall is close but how stiff is it really? it's a sheet of steel. I'd say a stiff strut brace can't hurt.... it's just not a mod you can definitely say made a huge difference--and that's true for most cars.
The facts can be found online if you do the research. I heard the same thing when I swapped out mine with the Steeda brace so I looked into it and the bracing is behind the firewall, not the firewall itself. I’m sure if you measured the amount of flex between the OEM, an aftermarket and no brace you would see some data but it’s not enough that you’re gonna feel it.


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Cdubya

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The facts can be found online if you do the research. I heard the same thing when I swapped out mine with the Steeda brace so I looked into it and the bracing is behind the firewall, not the firewall itself.


s-l1600-13.jpeg
Here is a salvage pic with all the guts removed. It's all guesswork and opinion whether a brace between the strut towers could possibly help or is completely cosmetic. I personally think it would help and certainly wouldn't hurt.
 

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SoySauceSoakedSaltine

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I cleaned a dropped dish of cranberry sauce off my Tux Mats. Great floor liners FTW!
Since I'm not a huge fan of cranberry sauce that's a win. Id be laughing my butt off but my wife would be crying all night lol She has a unhealthy obsession for cranberry sauce.
 

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I stick with the classic cranberry sauce that comes out shaped like the can!
That’s my favorite kind! And it’s gotta be Ocean Spray cranberry sauce. The jellied kind without the whole berries in it.


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View attachment 26618
Here is a salvage pic with all the guts removed. It's all guesswork and opinion whether a brace between the strut towers could possibly help or is completely cosmetic. I personally think it would help and certainly wouldn't hurt.
I may be wrong, but from what I understand there are tubular support bars (missing from your picture) which actually support the strut towers. I’ll try to find the front end blow-out that shows them. If I’m wrong, then I’d like to know it and see the reason why so I can learn and don’t pass on wrong information.


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Cdubya

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I may be wrong, but from what I understand there are tubular support bars (missing from your picture) which actually support the strut towers. I’ll try to find the front end blow-out that shows them. If I’m wrong, then I’d like to know it and see the reason why so I can learn and don’t pass on wrong information.
There ARE angled braces from the strut towers to the center of the firewall. The strut bar completes the triangulation which geometrically makes it very stiff if your strut bar is likewise stiff. To me, looking at the firewall and support structures, there is a lot of weight-saving trade-offs going off. I do not brush off positive feedback from a good stiff strut brace like the aFe or the Steeda. If you have a stiffer suspension, like Steeda lowering springs, and like to take aggressive corners, you probably will notice an improvement. If you don't think it improves handling, by all means don't even bother running a strut tower brace--the engine bay looks much cleaner without one and you'll save a little weight.
 



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