2014 Explorer XLT 4WD Front Struts

[914pete]

Hi, I have a 2014 Explorer XLT 4WD with 161,000 miles on it. I bought the car used from a Toyota dealership. Mistake #1. Anyway, When I went to buy after market front brake rotors the ones I received were smaller then what was on the car. I called to complain and was told I must have the police interceptor model. Oook. So they sent the larger rotors which fit well. Now I have to change the front struts as well as the control arm bushings and sway bar links. Now some of the tell tale signs of the interceptor model are the shifter on the column, mine is between the seats, and no 3rd row seating, I have 3rd row seats. So what model do I really have and do I need to specify "police interceptor" when sourcing the front end parts?

 

[peterk9]

I'm quite sure that you have a 2014 XLT. It should show on the liftgate. You don't have a PIU which also has a different grille.
Here are the front brakes for both the XLT and PIU

Front Brakes for 2014 Ford Explorer | Levittown Ford Parts

parts.levittownfordparts.com

Front Brakes for 2014 Ford Police Interceptor Utility | Levittown Ford Parts

parts.levittownfordparts.com

As you can see, the part numbers are the same.

Struts & Components for 2014 Ford Explorer | Levittown Ford Parts

parts.levittownfordparts.com

Front Brakes for 2014 Ford Police Interceptor Utility | Levittown Ford Parts

parts.levittownfordparts.com

BTW, Levittown is a forum vendor and offers a discount to members. My search was done on 3.5L XLT.

Peter

 

[ProjectSHO89]

IIRC, all retail XLT, Sport, and Platinum got the police front brakes starting back around 2012.

Your parts source simply had the wrong info regarding the brakes.

You don't have a PIU.

 

[peterk9]

Correct. They went to the same HD brakes midway through the 2013 production year. Around December 2012.

Peter

 

[J_C]

I could be wrong but if you see differences in the part #s for struts for the PIU, that probably just means they are a firmer strut for more body control. Then again it could depend on valving for a little different ride height with stiffer springs.

I agree with prior posts that the confusion about rotors was just that Ford decided to put the HD rotors on everything shortly before yours was made.

 

[914pete]

Ok. Thanks for the parts schematics. I'll go with whatever they have for an XLT 4WD. I was just talking to a local municipal mechanic that repairs all the police cars etc. The clunking I'm hearing and feeling in the front end is most likely sway bar links. He said he replaces them a lot on the Explorers. He said the struts last a really long time.

 

[dfox52]

Hi, I have a 2014 Explorer XLT 4WD with 161,000 miles on it. I bought the car used from a Toyota dealership. Mistake #1. Anyway, When I went to buy after market front brake rotors the ones I received were smaller then what was on the car. I called to complain and was told I must have the police interceptor model. Oook. So they sent the larger rotors which fit well. Now I have to change the front struts as well as the control arm bushings and sway bar links. Now some of the tell tale signs of the interceptor model are the shifter on the column, mine is between the seats, and no 3rd row seating, I have 3rd row seats. So what model do I really have and do I need to specify "police interceptor" when sourcing the front end parts?

You don't necessarily have the Police package. In 2013, Ford changed to HD brakes (same as police package) on some trim levels.