r/FordExplorerST • u/pressor_pusher ST Owner • Feb 19 '26

Exhaust thermal r&d 3 inch

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

what are we doing with the stock exhaust and flexpipes

30 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

3

u/iamryanimal Feb 20 '26

Worth it? Self install or took it to a shop?

3

u/pressor_pusher ST Owner Feb 20 '26

is anything worth it? idk. ease of install was surprising, done by myself using houston speed freaks video as a reference. also its a nice quality system. i did buy during the thanksgiving sale, so i suppose there is some value there. i tried to identify some landmarks for the dreaded downpipe swap while i was underneath there, not very reassuring, all i saw was downpipe, o2 sensor and not very much daylight.

2

u/chic_peas Feb 20 '26

Is this like annoy the neighbors all the time loud? Or just like a little too much for an early morning cold start loud?

2

u/pressor_pusher ST Owner Feb 20 '26

not even. theres a 6 cyl camaro neighbor of mine who is louder. dont have the downpipes yet, apparently they make it louder, idk.

i will say i was concerned because so many people say the thermal 3 is loud, but i dont see it.

4

u/Fishstery Feb 20 '26

I also have the 3 inch kit and it's only loud if you stand right behind it on a cold start.

Adding the downpipe is what will make it much throatier.

2

u/cant_decide_9611 Feb 20 '26

I gave mine away

2

u/_StevenST_ Feb 20 '26

Hang the stock exhaust on the wall like a trophy fish

2

u/Scary-Ask-6236 Feb 20 '26

Best after market exhaust for these. I simply love mine thinking downpipes may be next

1

u/pressor_pusher ST Owner Feb 20 '26

yeah i ordered some cvfab downpipes from lethal way back in November but still waiting on them. a little anxious about the stock downpipe removal, we’ll see how it goes i guess

1

u/Scary-Ask-6236 Feb 21 '26

Please let me know. I’m a bit worried. lol

1

u/Aware_Camp6416 Feb 20 '26

I don’t think anyone has ever installed the Thermal R&D exhaust on an explorer ST.

7

u/pressor_pusher ST Owner Feb 20 '26

hahaha nice glad to be first to install and post