Adam's Explorer ST Gets FENFAB Parts! (Part 1 - Downpipes and Diff Brace w/ Thermal Exhaust)

We started building Adam's 2020 Explorer ST! In this video we installed:
- FENFABrication Catted Downpipes
- FENFABrication Diff Brace
- Thermal R&D 3" Exhaust
Brett from FENFAB is a good friend of ours so go give him some love on IG: @fenfabrication
fenfabrication.com/
thermalrd.com/

[@daverarick7636]

Love the fact you take the time to give sizes. I’ve seen so many videos that leave the info out and I’m left one socket short. Great video as usual.

[@ShawnFerret]

We try! Thanks, Dave!

[@Dylan_Draper]

The exhaust sounds great!

[@ShawnFerret]

Better than the 3.5L ecoboost in my opinion! More like a Nissan GTR.

[@Dylan_Draper]

@@ShawnFerret Adam is my manager, looking forward to going for a ride in this thing with everything installed!

[@ShawnFerret]

@@Dylan_Draper ohhhh, you are that Dylan! Adam speaks highly of you!

[@Rob...]

amazing how big those factory cats are! bet it feels quite a bit faster!

[@ShawnFerret]

I know, right!

[@justinr.greenley8524]

What is the red swivel mag light? I had one and lost it a few years back and cannot for the life of me remember what it was.

[@denismanace]

Hello what was install time for downpipes? Thank you.

[@CoonAssJarhead]

What is the benefit of doing catted downpipes as well as the cat-back? I’m waiting for my Thermal exhaust to arrive still but I was planning on keeping the stock cats and downpipes. Is it just for better sound or is there a hp advantage as well?

[@Mindfullnessism]

Just installed the same exhaust set up yesterday, any tips to making the tips more centered in the openings? Mine seem to be on the outside more, and the drivers side sits lower by about an inch or so.

[@ShawnFerret]

That’s funny because I think our tips sat more toward the inside than outside. I think there is a ton of adjustability with the way they have this exhaust broken up though. On your driver’s side you may have to play with the piece further upstream from the last one. I also think it would be tough to do without a couple people holding things in alignment while a other person tightens.

[@drewz4236]

Wish I had this done on my st!

[@ShawnFerret]

Do it!!!

[@betitos11]

Is that the best way to join the two pipes with the brackets or is it just to make it easier ? Ive never seen that before.

[@ShawnFerret]

The slip fittings are much nicer to work with than traditional u-clamps. U-clamps have a tendency to pinch the pipes slightly and make it hard to remove again later or adjust after the fact. The slip fittings seal nicely and if you remove them the pipes can still slide around for adjustment or removal.

[@execlon]

Thanks for uploading, I now know I'll pay for downpipes to be installed lol

[@ShawnFerret]

Haha... we probably made it look harder than it was. It was about 2.5 hours total for the downpipes.

[@jasonmustanggts]

Just wondering. Is it necessary to add a diff brace even though it has the two bolt cradle?

[@ShawnFerret]

I’m not an expert on this platform so maybe someone else will chine in.

[@soulpatchpsu]

Ypu have any rattle with your thermal? Have the 3in thermal with mid pipes on my 22 st and have a rattle I cannot seem to get rid of

[@ShawnFerret]

Sorry to hear that. There was no rattle for us.

[@Pawe70zga]

Can you post links in the description to all the products you guys instaled in theis vid and the 2nd vid that would be awesome thanks

[@ShawnFerret]

I put the exact name of the parts with links to the manufacturer websites in the description.

[@Tanner_505]

Do you have the torque specs for the subframe bolts and transmission cross member bolts?

[@ShawnFerret]

The front subframe bolts are 195 ft/lbs - we call this out around 11:00 in this video. The transmission cross member bolts are 59 ft/lbs.

[@wranglerextreme]

If he’s got a 2020 he shouldn’t need the diff brace? I was told certain 2021 and the 2022 models only need one

[@ShawnFerret]

My understanding is earlier 2-bolt diffs are also susceptible to failure at one of the two mounting holes (when adding power). I have no first hand experience, this is just what I’ve heard.

[@brianschenck1951]

Getting the factory downpipes out sucked so bad

[@patriotcanuck6485]

What does a diff brace do?

[@ShawnFerret]

With added power and hard launches, some of these Explorers have cracked the rear diff housing at the rear bolts. This is insurance against that.

[@patriotcanuck6485]

@@ShawnFerret oh wow, okay thank you for answering.

[@nickewell9349]

Down pipes look to be a pain

[@ShawnFerret]

Honestly not that bad! They took maybe 2 hours.

[@blakegarner3719]

Will these downpipes pass smog tests? Will they throw check engine lights? I am not planning on tuning my ST but I have read that you can pick up a good amount of performance by changing these out. Thanks!

[@ShawnFerret]

You would have to reach out to FenFab for a verified answer on this. We drove around after installing them, prior to re-tuning and they didn't set a Check Engine Light.