Explorer ST AWR rear differential brace install.

Watch me as I install the AWR read differential brace on my 2022 Ford Explorer ST. As many of you may already know they took away one of the rear diff mounting bolts around the mid 2021 MY on the Explorer ST's. Since then there has been a bunch of them snapping the remaining rear diff bolt when hard accelerating from a dead stop. This will help to keep that from happening and if in a rare case it does, this brace will allow the vehicle to be driven home safely.
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Link to brace: www.lethalperformance.com/awr...
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Link to E18 wrench on ebay: www.ebay.com/itm/393910471143...
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Contents of Video:
0:00 Intro
0:40 Why I chose the AWR
1:41 13mm from instructions don't work and need a E18 wrench
3:26 Bracket install start
5:45 How to install the top bolt on the AWR bracket
7:13 Bracket install continues
8:10 Installation of the upper bracket
9:18 Correct installation of the supplied bolt bracket and top brace bracket
9:54 Installing and tightening of the bolts
18:28 brace installation complete
21:28 outtro

[@rodmarsh3089]

Okay, as I continued to watch the video, I learned what it is, thank you for your help.

[@MikeHarris1984]

I am doing this mod!!! I've been seeing on the Forum's where people are SNAPPING that single bolt in the back.. why Ford didn't use two bolts is beyond me. But the power adder's i'm doing and the tunning i'm doing, This is a must as I've been scared of snapping that bolt on the diff....

[@KnightsGarage]

Yeah, they changed to a single bolt made 2021 year model I believe. No doubt that they changed it because of money one less mount and one less bolt to pay for and install. This thing is about the best one you can get at a reasonable price. There are cheaper ones out there that aren’t quite as sturdy and there are more expensive ones out there that are more beefy, but cost over 500 bucks.

[@john-9197]

So glad I have a 2020

[@KnightsGarage]

From what I see the 2020’s have a lot of turbo and trans issues.

[@charleshenson4183]

​@@KnightsGarage The new model kinks. Never buy the 1st yr of a new model. Let someone else be fords test monkey.

[@rodmarsh3089]

I see that you have the brace sitting on the table, and it looks like you have a little tool laying beside the brace, is that a shim? does it come with the brace?

[@kandaceknight4316]

Looks like a pain in the but to get that one bolt in. You were down there forever.

[@KnightsGarage]

Yes, but it wasn’t too bad.

[@jayswanson6244]

Installed. Now 10,000 miles later rear differential is leaking and Ford says not under warranty. Will cost $2,000+ to re-seal differential

[@KnightsGarage]

If someone wants to charge you $2000 to reseal the differential you need a different quote. And there’s nothing about this that would cause the differential to start leaking unless you didn’t tighten the bolts back down properly. Sounds like a dealership being A holes to me. But in the end, anytime you install an aftermarket part on your car and you take a risk. There are lots of people that have these installed with no issues.

[@JaafarMuhammad]

Thanks for all the tough work you are videoing here. Is it only necessary for the ST trim? I have the Limited with 2.3 EcoBoost on it and wonder if it could help or necessary for mounting it on.

[@KnightsGarage]

Far as I know, it’s only a necessity on the three bolt diff of the ST model. Originally they had four bolts, and then they started making it with three bolts again later on but certain years, they deleted one of them and the vehicle really makes too much power for that so it bends and breaks the rear diff bolt. I’m fairly certain the 2.3 L model doesn’t have the power necessary to cause the failure.

[@JaafarMuhammad]

@@KnightsGarage I see, mine has 3 bolts too. I thought that this mount will add an Extra support for the rear diff, because sometimes I like to use harshly ☺️. Thanks indeed sir for your kind reply.

[@KnightsGarage]

@@JaafarMuhammad I wouldn’t add this to the 23 eco-booth model unless I was doing a lot of Towing at capacity. But if you want extra assurance when towing it’s not a bad idea to install one of these diff braces.

[@rodmarsh3089]

Hello, does that block the drain plug for the rear differential fluids to be change?

[@KnightsGarage]

Yes. There are some that say you can still get to it but I’m here to tell you that you can’t, but if you take the large bolt out and the lower bowl that’s near the driver side from the bracket on the rear in the bracket will swing out of the way and you can easily change the fluid then you just swing that bracket back up and put the large boat through the bushing and tightened everything back down No problem. When I change my dip fluid, it probably added a total of five minutes extra work to the process

[@laundrupatton208]

Is that one blue color bolt holding the differential in place that this recall is about?

[@KnightsGarage]

no, the bolt you're talking about it top left of the rear end.

[@danielgabriel5549]

will this work on a used recently purchased 2021 Ford Explorer Police interceptor utility 3.3L V6 ? or do i even need one ? thanks brother

[@KnightsGarage]

I wouldn’t put one on a 3.3. Doesn’t have enough power to need it. But I think it uses the same rear diff, so I’m sure you can put one on.

[@danielgabriel5549]

@@KnightsGarage Thank You my Brother**Better Safe than Sorry😒

[@JoseAngel-je7ug]

Update? How has it held up

[@KnightsGarage]

Been holding up great. A guy in the Facebook groups hitting 11.30’s in the 1/4, in his ST with the one bolt rear and this brace.

[@rodmarsh3089]

How much did it cost?

[@KnightsGarage]

A few hunnitt when I bought it.

[@RomanMakovetskiy]

I doubt Ford engineers wasn’t smart enough to add rigidity to the axle! What if current flexility there is for cause!

[@KnightsGarage]

You are incorrect because they changed back to the two bolt design by 2023 because of bolt breakages. They took a chance to save money and it didn’t work out. Do some research my friend.