When it comes to the SUV, very few vehicles
are as recognizable as the Explorer.
Taking the world by
storm during its initial debut, the popularity of the Explorer has continued to grow, branching into
different markets than most SUVs could ever reach. With the newest Timberline model, the Explorer is
back to its off-road capable roots, but the most entertaining remains the Explorer ST. With rear-biased
performance and a twin-turbocharged V-6 engine, the Explorer ST is easily one of the most thrilling SUVs
available on sale to date, especially at its price point of $47,745. The ST accelerates like a muscle
car, handles close to a sports car, and does
it all with seating for seven comfortably. With it being so easy to modify with the EcoBoost motor, picking the top 5 upgrades might seem difficult,
but there are some that
shine above the others. These engines and vehicles have shown themselves to be incredibly easy to modify
- more so than many other family SUVs. Just like performance cars like the Mustang, the Explorer ST is
brimming with possibilities for higher performance. As one of the newest hot vehicles, we at Steeda are
more than ready to make it the ultimate performance SUV from Ford.
Video
Tuning
Intercooler
Cat-Back Exhaust
Sway Bars
Shocks
As impressive as the Explorer ST is, it can always perform better, run faster, and drive harder. The
engine comes from the factory putting out 400 horsepower from its twin-turbo V6 engine. While it is no
slouch,
running the 0-60 in 5.2 seconds, the car can have extra power put in easily. The twin-turbo V6 is
incredibly easy to tune and upgrade for more power, like all EcoBoost engines, and upgrades like this
are relatively affordable as
well. The tuner that SCT makes is capable of full diagnostic work plus installation of tunes for your
ST. SCT's X4 tuner
for the Explorer ST is able to help data log extra info for upgrading, such as fuel
economy, torque, turbo pressure, and more. This tuner can add more power if you tune it for it as well
as being able to improve fuel economy, functioning as an all-in-one system to keep your vehicle running
to its best performance. If you intend to upgrade your Explorer ST, you're going to need to improve how it breathes.
Keeping your
engine cool is important in any application, and in turbocharged vehicles, like the Explorer ST
it can
make a major difference in power and efficiency. To ensure that the pressurized air from the turbos is
cold when it
reaches the
engine, upgrading to the Whipple Mega Cooler is your best option. At more than three times the
size of
the stock intercooler in the Explorer ST, the Mega Cooler cools the motor down and helps it
breathe more
easily than any other option on the market, helping with acceleration and overall driving
performance.
One of the most common upgrades to any vehicle is the exhaust, and when it comes to
performance-oriented
vehicles there are more options than ever. The Explorer ST actually has multiple aftermarket
exhaust
options including Borla, MBRP, and more, but not all exhaust setups are made equal, especially in terms
of performance. Depending on your taste, it is
easy to
say which exhaust is the best for the Explorer ST - the MBRP
Explorer ST Pro Series Cat-Back Exhaust -
which gives sound, style, and performance. The MBRP exhaust is aggressive without being too
loud, and
sounds like a performance car, especially when you hear the turbo blow-off after the initial
rev.
Additionally, this cat-back exhaust flows 25% more efficiently than the stock system which is
why it
performs better as well as sounds better. As powerful and tossable as the Explorer ST is, it is still a large SUV. At 4,700 lbs, the
Explorer ST is
on the larger end, even when compared to some rivals like the Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Dodge Durango, and
others. Thankfully, the ST is as easy to modify for
suspension and stability as it is for power and acceleration. To ensure your Explorer ST
stays
planted on the ground around corners, the installation of sway bars is highly recommended to help reduce
body
roll and
increase structural rigidity. With the ST's handling in mind, we developed our Explorer Adjustable Rear
Sway Bar which we have tested on vehicles from
the base
Explorers through Police pursuit vehicles. Tested at
high speed and under aggressive cornering, these sway bars are lightweight while being very
durable
under pressure. With multiple adjustable settings, these can be changed to your liking to be
tighter for
handling or looser for comfort. Along with the rear sway bars, there are other upgrades that will improve the handling of your
Explorer
ST too. Upgrades to suspension are the best ways to improve handling, such as lowering or
reinforcing
for structural rigidity and lowering the center of gravity. While there are not many upgrades on the ST
currently, the option to
nearly
create your own ST yields many upgrades like the Steeda Pro-Action
Front and Rear
Struts and Shocks. The Steeda
Pro-Action Struts are proven to make your Explorer handle at least on-par with the ST, lowering
the
center of gravity while also keeping the car more stable on the road under corners or hard
acceleration.
For even more performance, installing the Steeda
Explorer Lowering Springs which will lower the center of gravity further and allowing
you even
more control over your Explorer ST.
Top 5 Upgrades For The Explorer ST
Explorer ST Review
Explorer ST Tuning
Explorer ST Intercooler
Explorer ST Cat-Back Exhaust
Explorer ST Rear Sway Bar
Explorer ST Shocks
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