Put the power down hard in a 2020-2026 Explorer ST and the rear end lets you know about it. That shudder through the floor when you launch, or the loose, disconnected feeling when you load up a tight corner, is not the tires giving up. It is the rear subframe moving around inside its own bushings.
Ford mounted the Explorer's rear subframe in soft rubber bushings, which is exactly what you want for a quiet family hauler. Add 400 horsepower and it becomes the weak link. Under load those bushings deflect, the subframe shifts, and your rear geometry changes at the worst possible moment. The result is wheel hop on launch and a vague, spongey feel when cornering.
The Steeda Subframe Bushing Support Kit, better known as Stop The Hop, takes that deflection out of the equation. It is one of the first upgrades we recommend on an ST, and it is one of the least invasive.
How It Kills Wheel Hop
The kit works by filling the voids in your factory subframe bushings rather than replacing them. CNC-machined billet aluminum supports insert into the existing bushings and take up the space the rubber would otherwise squash into. The subframe stays put, your rear suspension geometry stays where Ford intended, and the power gets to the pavement instead of into a shudder.
That distinction matters more than it sounds. The traditional way to solve subframe movement is a full urethane or solid bushing swap, which works but drags a pile of noise, vibration, and harshness into the cabin with it. Because these supports work with the factory rubber instead of replacing it, you get the stiffness without the drone.
What It Feels Like Afterward
The most noticeable change is on launch. Hard acceleration from a stop goes from a hopping, skipping mess to a clean hookup. The rear end simply stays planted.
The second change is subtler and arguably better. Steering and cornering feel more connected, because the rear of the SUV is no longer shifting underneath you mid corner. Spirited driving and track days get noticeably more predictable, which is the whole point of a performance SUV.
Features & Benefits
- Increases traction and eliminates wheel hop on launch
- No increase in NVH, unlike a typical urethane bushing kit
- Better handling and a more connected road feel
- Easy to install with no permanent modifications
- CNC machined in-house from T6061 aircraft grade billet aluminum
- Made at Steeda's Valdosta, Georgia facility
- Limited lifetime warranty, patent pending
Check Your Subframe Before You Order
This is the one thing to sort out before you click buy. Ford used more than one rear crossmember on the Explorer, and the kit does not fit all of them.
Not confirmed: MB5Z-5035-B.
Will not fit: MB5Z-5035-F.
To check yours, call your local Ford dealership with the last 8 of your VIN and ask for the "rear crossmember assembly" part number.
Get Yours
For an ST owner who wants better traction, sharper handling, and more confidence with the throttle down, this is a lot of return for a simple bolt-in part. Nothing gets cut, nothing gets welded, and nothing about your daily drive gets worse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this kit add noise or vibration to my Explorer ST?
No. The supports insert into the factory bushings rather than replacing them, so they prevent deflection without introducing the NVH that comes with a typical urethane or solid bushing swap. Your ride stays as quiet as stock.
Does the Steeda Stop The Hop kit require any permanent modifications?
No cutting, drilling, or welding. It is a bolt-in installation using the factory subframe bushings, and it can be reversed.
How do I know if my Explorer ST subframe is compatible?
Call your Ford dealer with the last 8 digits of your VIN and ask for the rear crossmember assembly part number. MB5Z-5035-J and MB5Z-5035-G are confirmed compatible. MB5Z-5035-F will not fit, and MB5Z-5035-B is not confirmed.
Should I install this before or after sway bars and lowering springs?
Before. Subframe movement undermines everything else you bolt on, so taking the deflection out first lets your sway bars, springs, and end links work the way they were designed to.
Will this fix wheel hop completely on its own?
It is the single biggest step and often enough on a mostly stock ST. On a tuned truck making significantly more power, pair it with upgraded sway bars, end links, and a differential brace for the best result.
Stop the Hop
Put the power down instead of shuddering. Shop the Steeda kit, or call and we will spec the right combination of suspension parts for your ST.
