• Sign Up! To view all forums and unlock additional cool features

    Welcome to the #1 Explorer ST Forum and Explorer ST community dedicated to Explorer ST owners and enthusiasts. Register for an account, it's free and it's easy, so don't hesitate to join the Explorer ST Forum today!


Basic brakes to ST brake kit

Kryuenger

Member
U.S. Navy Veteran
Messages
86
Reactions
21
Points
7
Location
Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
#1
Does anyone know what parts need to be ordered to convert the basic brakes to ST street pack?
Is it just calipers and rotors? Or do I need new brake lines and brackets?
When I purchased the ST dealer told me the only difference between basic and street pack was pads and colored calipers. In retrospect, I should’ve went with the street pack.
 

UNBROKEN

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,201
Reactions
4,894
Points
352
Location
Houston, TX, USA
#2
Rotors, calipers and caliper mounting brackets for sure. Doubtful on the lines.
 

GearHead_1

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,425
Reactions
1,144
Points
262
Location
Utah
Vehicle
Exploder
#3
Maybe the backing shield too.
 

zdubyadubya

Active Member
Messages
813
Reactions
630
Points
232
Location
Utah
Vehicle
2020 ST
#4
When I purchased the ST dealer told me the only difference between basic and street pack was pads and colored calipers. In retrospect, I should’ve went with the street pack.
This pisses me off to no end... why do dealers always have to be lying pieces of sh*t. You would think they would actually try to shake that reputation so people wouldn't hate them. But seriously, the dealer model for selling cars in this country BLOWS.
 

Autoworker

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,052
Reactions
1,145
Points
262
Location
Ohio
#5
Does anyone know what parts need to be ordered to convert the basic brakes to ST street pack?
Is it just calipers and rotors? Or do I need new brake lines and brackets?
With just daily driving, I'm not sure how much you will gain with the Street Pack. Maybe if you take it to the track or autocross. I'm guessing you will need the 21" wheels also for the bigger rotors? It will be interesting to see how much the conversion will cost you.
 

UNBROKEN

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,201
Reactions
4,894
Points
352
Location
Houston, TX, USA
#6
With just daily driving, I'm not sure how much you will gain with the Street Pack. Maybe if you take it to the track or autocross. I'm guessing you will need the 21" wheels also for the bigger rotors? It will be interesting to see how much the conversion will cost you.
It’s a great combo for every day driving...not just track stuff. In fact they would be inadequate for that. And 18” wheels still fit.
 

Messages
369
Reactions
220
Points
37
Location
Airizona
#7
I learned early on in my car loving life to not trust salesmen to have accurate information. Things change on these vehicles pretty rapidly and the only things salesmen worry about is $$$ in the end, they aren't going to study all the changes on every make and model. Because of this I do my own research before even stepping foot on a dealership lot (although I didn't do enough on the Edge... d'oh!). The cost of the street pack was a no brainer to me since all the rotors are larger, the rear are vented (not solid), and the larger rims. The $600 step up to the "performance" pads was not worth it to me.

I also agree that the street pack is a great combo for every day driving. Braking is a really important part of driving!
 

Messages
48
Reactions
18
Points
2
Location
NYC, NY, USA
#8
Can with knowledge on the exact parts needed list them here from the ford parts website?

i dont know what the hell im looking at on that website
 

GearHead_1

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,425
Reactions
1,144
Points
262
Location
Utah
Vehicle
Exploder
#9
I’m going out on a limb here but I haven’t seen anyone on this site make the upgrade. I’m wondering if you wouldn’t be wise to wait and see if PowerStop or someone else comes out with a kit. You’d still need steering knuckle and backing plate but in the long run might be cheaper.
 

DHollis

New Member
Messages
20
Reactions
3
Points
2
Location
Hanford, CA, USA
#10
I checked into this also! The dealer told me it was not possible, based on what his break guy said. My 20” wheels would not work. Said there was computer and valve stuff my car does not have Which is in the upgrade. Not possible they said. I will be confirming with other dealers. FYI
 

GearHead_1

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,425
Reactions
1,144
Points
262
Location
Utah
Vehicle
Exploder
#11
Let me start by saying I mean no offense with this post. I‘m a believer that anything mechanical can be done. This is not impossible. That said, I think it would be just about as hard to put a list together with all the upgraded parts as it would be to change them. Unless I had one of each sitting side by side I’m not sure I could easily do this. It’s not like the parts diagram on Ford’s site shows a side by side picture and says this one for Street or Strip Pack and this one for Standard Brakes. This would be a time consuming process. Now if someone has already done this and kept the list that’s another story. In other words @dragon434, I think you’re asking for a lot.
 

UNBROKEN

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,201
Reactions
4,894
Points
352
Location
Houston, TX, USA
#12
I checked into this also! The dealer told me it was not possible, based on what his break guy said. My 20” wheels would not work. Said there was computer and valve stuff my car does not have Which is in the upgrade. Not possible they said. I will be confirming with other dealers. FYI
I’d get a second opinion considering not only will your 20” wheels work but so will 18’s. The PIU models have the same brakes as the ST...they’re just not red. Hard to take anything else that dealer says as fact.
 

Autoworker

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,052
Reactions
1,145
Points
262
Location
Ohio
#13
When it's all said and done, with parts and labor, if it's an option you really want, I'd consider trading yours in for a 2021 model with the street pack.
Does anyone know what parts need to be ordered to convert the basic brakes to ST street pack?
Is it just calipers and rotors? Or do I need new brake lines and brackets?
When I purchased the ST dealer told me the only difference between basic and street pack was pads and colored calipers. In retrospect, I should’ve went with the street pack.
I checked into this also! The dealer told me it was not possible, based on what his break guy said. My 20” wheels would not work. Said there was computer and valve stuff my car does not have Which is in the upgrade. Not possible they said. I will be confirming with other dealers. FYI
 

Messages
48
Reactions
18
Points
2
Location
NYC, NY, USA
#14
Let me start by saying I mean no offense with this post. I‘m a believer that anything mechanical can be done. This is not impossible. That said, I think it would be just about as hard to put a list together with all the upgraded parts as it would be to change them. Unless I had one of each sitting side by side I’m not sure I could easily do this. It’s not like the parts diagram on Ford’s site shows a side by side picture and says this one for Street or Strip Pack and this one for Standard Brakes. This would be a time consuming process. Now if someone has already done this and kept the list that’s another story. In other words @dragon434, I think you’re asking for a lot.
oh i thought it was as simple as swapping out the rotors and calipers, i didnt know the wheels needed to be changed too, if thats the case I might just scrap the idea, I like the 20 inch wheels.
 

UNBROKEN

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,201
Reactions
4,894
Points
352
Location
Houston, TX, USA
#15
oh i thought it was as simple as swapping out the rotors and calipers, i didnt know the wheels needed to be changed too, if thats the case I might just scrap the idea, I like the 20 inch wheels.
Again, the wheels don’t need to be changed.
 

GearHead_1

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,425
Reactions
1,144
Points
262
Location
Utah
Vehicle
Exploder
#16
I’m not even sure that the steering knuckle needs to be changed but I suspect it does. Maybe they just use longer ears on the calipers and the steering knuckle is good to go. That would make things much easier. The backing plate would surely be larger on the bigger rotor but that may not be a piece that has to be changed. Gotta think they’d use the same hub in both setups. Like I said, I’d like to see them side by side. As @UNBROKEN has said, the wheels apparently work with an 18” wheel. Pretty sure the Interceptors use 18” wheels and come with Big Brakes. If you pursue this I’d really like to hear what you find out.
 

Messages
48
Reactions
18
Points
2
Location
NYC, NY, USA
#17
I’m not even sure that the steering knuckle needs to be changed but I suspect it does. Maybe they just use longer ears on the calipers and the steering knuckle is good to go. That would make things much easier. The backing plate would surely be larger on the bigger rotor but that may not be a piece that has to be changed. Gotta think they’d use the same hub in both setups. Like I said, I’d like to see them side by side. As @UNBROKEN has said, the wheels apparently work with an 18” wheel. Pretty sure the Interceptors use 18” wheels and come with Big Brakes. If you pursue this I’d really like to hear what you find out.
gonna go to my dealer on monday and see what they say
 

Messages
66
Reactions
31
Points
17
Location
SoCal CA
#18
Spindle knuckles are the same. ST has larger rotors and pads but not in significance, however ST caliper is bulky and heavy comparing to the base model, not much for the size but by material (Cast iron).

You may learn more here:
https://www.explorerst.org/threads/brake-upgrade.1006/page-2#post-16706
 

Last edited:

Cheekutz

New Member
Messages
9
Reactions
7
Points
2
Location
Salem, NH, USA
#19
I just finished this swap. All that is needed is calipers with brackets, rotors, and backing plates. (You could probably get away with not swapping the backing plates if you couldn't find them). All lines fit, as well as the parking brake actuator motors.

There is about a ¾" difference in rotor diameter between the Base and Street Pack front rotors. Amd a whopping 1¼" difference in the rear, in addition to them being a vented rotor vs the solid base rotor.

Front rotors

20220907_083635.jpg 20220907_083621.jpg

Rear rotors
20220907_105623.jpg 20220907_105800.jpg

20220907_105805.jpg
 

Rybaks914

New Member
Messages
17
Reactions
10
Points
2
Location
New Jersey
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST
#20
What wheels do you have on with the he swap?? I just purchase the brake package should be coming in this week
 



Top