How to Choose an Aftermarket Exhaust for a Focus ST

 

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Ford's ST lineup of vehicles stands for sports technologies and represents the brand's sportier versions of their existing models. One of those models is the Focus which is starting to become as synonymous for the brand as the golf is for VW. The Focus ST brings the regular Focus up a notch in terms of power as well as tactility when it comes to going round bends.

The Focus has always had a sporty nature but the ST has brought out the true roar of the hatchback. FWD, not too clinical and fun to throw around a back road which means that all the Focus ST is missing is a more apparent growl at the back.

Benefits of an Aftermarket Exhaust

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Performance

Although not always the case, an aftermarket exhaust can help bring out even more HP from that restrictive system found on all stock vehicles including the Focus ST. With a proper performance Focus ST exhaust you can make the car “breathe” better as you open up its exhaust pathways.

Availability

A great benefit of aftermarket parts, in general, is that it's easy to find what you're after. Even if it's a specific component or a whole system of parts you can find them almost anywhere be it online or out in the real world.

Cost

The cost of fitting an aftermarket exhaust system to a Focus ST is much lower than doing so with an OEM or OE system. Not only do you not get the free-flowing performance of an aftermarket one you also pay a fortune, Otherwise you get a cost-effective solution that will be on your daily for years to come.

Efficiency

A new Focus ST exhaust system can rejuvenate the whole car and it can make it run more efficiently even if it's a performance one. This won't increase MPGs but it will definitely affect other components and save them from working extra hard to keep everything going.

Sound

Finally, the exhaust note of your Focus ST can be easily changed to a deeper burble or growl or to a tamed one if that's what you're after. It's all up to your personal preference on this one just know that is possible.

What Matters in an Exhaust

Diameter

The size of the piping especially the downpipe is what affects the flow of gasses as well as the sound of the exhaust. A larger diameter exhaust will make for engine fumes to get their way through the exhaust a lot quicker and thus it won't bring down performance. It will also be louder but there is one downside if you go too big as it can create too much backpressure.

Bends

The number of bends on a Focus ST exhaust matters but what also matters is the type of bends it has. Mandrel bends are the best when it comes to providing an uninterrupted exhaust flow but they also increase the price of the system due to their unique manufacturing process.

Material

There are different materials an aftermarket exhaust can be made of but when it comes to performance vehicles like the Focus ST you should look for either stainless steel or titanium.

Stainless steel exhausts are your go-to option since they are good at handling impacts, temperature variations and corrosion without being too much on the pocket.

Titanium exhausts, on the other hand, are on another level as they are much stronger, lighter and better at fending off corrosion than stainless steel ones but they also cost more.

Resonator

The resonator is the only component on the exhaust that affects its sound but doesn't affect performance. You can add one or have none to your new Focus ST exhaust system but know that having it will make your hot hatch more street-friendly and not just a pocket rocket for the track.

Types of Exhausts

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Axle-Back

With an axle-back Focus ST exhaust system you're essentially getting an exhaust that replaces parts only from the rear axle to the tailpipes. This makes for the easiest-to-install system as well as the most affordable one. Just don't expect to get any major performance gains with it or you will be disappointed.

Header-Back

A header-back system is the exact opposite of an axle-back system since it replaces every single exhaust component from the manifold to the tailpipes. It costs a lot more time and money to get fitted to your ST but it makes a world of difference when it comes to acceleration and the exhaust note.

Turbo-Back

A turbo-back system is even more comprehensive as it replaces an additional component which is the turbocharger. This makes it an even better performance improvement than a header-back exhaust for a Focus ST but not that it can cost you a small fortune.

Cat-Back

With a cat-back exhaust for a Focus ST, you get a moderate performance boost for a moderate price tag and installation time. There's nothing too shabby or too much to handle with this type of exhaust therefore you can never go wrong with it.