I finally got a free afternoon to put the Kicker sub back into the car - it's been so 'empty' without this low-end sound... but ran out of time, still need to run the power wire to the amp!
Designed, engineered and built for the fast lane. From cornering and braking to sheer power and responsiveness, Focus ST delivers a thrilling driving experience.
Dynamat the hatch and swapping subs in the FoST
In the process of continual tweaking on our vehicles, I figured it was time to tackle the audio in the Focus ST. Not that it's horrible, but OEM can ALWAYS be improved by changing up components...
The trim ring (.5" deep) is important because the Kicker Sub is a little deeper than the Sony Sub...
I used some sealant between the spacer and the cabinet.
Next I had to add some of the sound deadener to seal off the hole behind the old Sony Subwoofer, and stuffed some PolyFil into the cabinet.
You can see how I wired the subwoofer in series, this allows the amp to run 300W @ 1Ohm and this subwoofer is built to accept this!
You can see the result of the config here... next I will post when it's hooked up!
The first step was to help remove some of the 'noise' from the hatch area - getting some Dynamat and Noico was my first step in the process (and relatively simple to be honest)
The first part was to disassemble the hatch to get to the metal
Pulling out the carpet and spare tire is relatively simple...
You have to disconnect the subwoofer as well - a simple unclip and 3 nuts to loosen the cabinet
There are 2 bolts on the bottomYou'll notice the 3rd bolt is a bit hidden, so check below...
Here's a good view of the whole area covered with some Dynamat, and the Noico - both are relatively the same, and really help knock down the noise/sound from vibrations, etc...
Next I had to remove the old Sony Subwoofer - dang, it looks puny next to the Kicker sub!
The trim ring (.5" deep) is important because the Kicker Sub is a little deeper than the Sony Sub...
I used some sealant between the spacer and the cabinet.
Next I had to add some of the sound deadener to seal off the hole behind the old Sony Subwoofer, and stuffed some PolyFil into the cabinet.
You can see how I wired the subwoofer in series, this allows the amp to run 300W @ 1Ohm and this subwoofer is built to accept this!
You can see the result of the config here... next I will post when it's hooked up!
Focus ST T-Shirts n-stuff
I've started designing some shirts and stuff for the ST crew - simple design, based on the newer body style '15-up
What do you think?
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S are Installed
Finally got the appointment to have the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires installed - a little wider than stock by 10mm, and 1/2 aspect ratio smaller (40 vs 45) - which doesn't affect the speedometer, etc...
The techs at America's Tire loved the ST and said I would absolutely love the Sport 4S tires - they're super high rated, and knowingly so since they're the successor to the insanely popular Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires...
OEM size of the Goodyear Eagle F1s are 235/45R18 which are a bargain compared to the Michelin rubber, to be honest, less than 1/2 the price!!
Just check the specs! 👀
The techs at America's Tire loved the ST and said I would absolutely love the Sport 4S tires - they're super high rated, and knowingly so since they're the successor to the insanely popular Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires...
OEM size of the Goodyear Eagle F1s are 235/45R18 which are a bargain compared to the Michelin rubber, to be honest, less than 1/2 the price!!
Just check the specs! 👀
We will see about how long these tires last :) LOL
I'm sure they'll take a few miles to break in as the outer skin wears through - but I'm very impressed with the noise on the road and they feel VERY plush for an aspect ratio of 40!
Even though pricey - I give them 👍👍
Ordered a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S - install pending
Our ST has chewed up the OEM tires, took only 23k miles... but what do you expect from a little rocket that you throw around corners. I'm surprised they lasted this long! 😆
I've had the Michelin Pilot Super Sport (PSS) on my AMG E55 and even on our 2011 Mazda MX-5 - the handling and grip is amazing! So I looked for those as a replacement - and found them for $149/ea at America's Tire - alas they're an older set of PSS that they're discounting due to age, and they're being phased out...
So we ordered a new set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S which is the successor to the ever popular PSS.
I've had the Michelin Pilot Super Sport (PSS) on my AMG E55 and even on our 2011 Mazda MX-5 - the handling and grip is amazing! So I looked for those as a replacement - and found them for $149/ea at America's Tire - alas they're an older set of PSS that they're discounting due to age, and they're being phased out...
So we ordered a new set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S which is the successor to the ever popular PSS.
We had to go up 10mm in width to fit the Focus @ 245/40R18 (OEM is 235/40R18)
Install is pending this week... feedback to come!
Ford Sync 3 version 3.0 18025 is out!
It's official now, if you waited for the Ford update - it's now available at http://owner.ford.com
What most Apple CarPlay folks are waiting for is the integration of Waze
Also, if you're pre-2017 you'll need the USB upgrade in the center console to work with the Apple CarPlay or Android Auto features for ~ $60 and it's a simple update!
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