2018 Ford Edge Sport

[itsnotdustin]

I picked up a 2018 Ford Edge Sport in white platinum pearl. I want to use this post to record the build as I go and hopefully get some insight and advice from you all. The build will be simple enough but may evolve as it goes along. I grew up on hondas/acuras and I still have 2000 Integra that I track or rally on occasion. I just sold my lifted 2002 Excursion 7.3L to get into something more comfortable/fun. 

 

Parts list so far:

Borla S-Type Exhaust - installed

It's for a 19-21 ST. aFe indicates their 19-21 ST exhaust system also fits the 15-18 Sport so I am test fitting this system for Borla on my 18. I'll let you know if it fits without modification.

 

aFe Rapid Induction Intake - installed

This is also for a 19-21 ST. I'll order it with the airbox cap and not worry about the hood seal. If anyone has confirmation on this fitting or not, info would be appreciated. I will update with fitment notes after install 

 

Unleashed SCT Livewire TS+ - installed

After browsing more forums I decided to go Unleashed. Apparently the customer support is solid and the device is less proprietary. Ive had the device before, and while it's dated, it is a bigger screen and should serve the purpose it needs to. 

 

TSW Bathurst 21x10.5 +45mm - installed

I'm unsure if this will cause issues with backspacing (7.5"). If it does I'll need to switch to the 21x9 +40mm 6.6" bs. Any input on this would be appreciated. 

 

Other parts on the list:

Falken Azenis FK510 265/40r21 - installed

JLT catch-can - installed

H&R sport lowering springs - installed

Amp kit - installed

Draw-tite trailer hitch - installed

Boomba BOV adapter - installed

Cravenspeed phone mount - installed

Fresh air mod v2 - installed

Mud flaps - installed

Black Badges and exhaust tips - installed

 

 

Edited September 1, 2023 by itsnotdustin

[onyxbfly]

Welcome to the forum! She looks great! You should also consider the Bilstein B6 shocks/ strut combo! They work together like hand and glove with the H&R springs.....If you have it all apart might as well do it once.....

 

You may want to reconsider going with 21x10.5..... 21" tires are still an oddball despite more and more manufactures adopting the size... If you're going to replace your wheels check out 20"s or 22" The 10.5 width will not be a issue with the correct offset that I can't recall at the moment hahah

 

I think that a 265 tire would be super stretched on a 10.5" wheel. 275 - 285 seems to be the sweet spot on the stock 21x9 wheel. One guy has 295!!! on the stock rim. Depending on where you live, I'm sure it could be enjoyable or a nightmare.

 

Check FB market place or Craigslist etc for a used trailer hitch. I've seen them go for half price.

[itsnotdustin]

Thanks for the welcome. I'll have to check out those shocks but I'll be looking to keep the ride pretty soft. Are those shocks much stiffer?

 

The 10.5" wide wheels are a month out and the 9" wide are in stock so if I find the 10.5 don't fit, I can order the 9 right away. I've been trying to find other Edge's that have a wheel with over 7" of backspacing but I haven't found an example yet, or any info on max backspacing for the Edge. If I don't find something I'll just order the 9 wide to be safe. 

 

The reason I picked the 265/40 is because its factory size for the 21" factory wheels so I knew it would be a little more accessible. I like a little stretch and the Falken Azenis FK10 is rated for a 10.5. 

Edited August 20, 2021 by itsnotdustin

[onyxbfly]

You got it!

 

While they are firmer, I would say that they are made for the correct spring rate which the stock shocks and struts are not. To me they provide a more comfortable ride than the stock combo with H&R springs.  You will notice an immediate increased harshness and firmness going from the 20" to 21" wheels. 

 

Any member here with less than perfect roads will tell you that 21"+ wheels will rider firmer and harsher than their ~20" counterparts.  Partly due to ~40 series tire.   I understand that its the look that you prefer, but you're going down a slippery slope in the compromise between aesthetics, performance and comfort.  More and more manufacturers are adopting the 21" wheel size. 

 

It is true that there definitely more tire choices now than in 2015 when they introduced the sport with optional 21" wheels.  It doesn't make it any less of an oddball size. Good quality tires are expensive regardless. Good quality tires in oddball sizes are even more so.

 

I'm not opposed to a lil stretch. Just not at the cost of sacrificing comfort and performance. A stretched 40 series can ride like a 35 series tire.  In my view you're entering the gray fuzzy area of diminishing returns with no real value added.  Then again you said you came up on the Asian car scene. You might be going for the VIP look.

 

Not trying to diminish your opinion or persuade you either way. Just want you to be aware of your options and the possible ramifications that may follow.  The TSW Bathurst has been on my short list for a while now. Its a gorgeous wheel. I lean slightly more towards the TSW Clypse because of the thicker spoke and its available in gloss black.

 

The possibilities are endless. Looking forward to seeing what you do with your edge. Enjoy it!

[itsnotdustin]

Good input. No doubt it will be a stiffer tire and I'll look into those shocks. 

 

I'm a fan of the TSW Clypse. I was looking as the Niche Essen which is very similar with thinner spokes. Both solid wheels.

 

I'll keep the post updated with fitment and ride quality updates.

Edited August 22, 2021 by itsnotdustin

[itsnotdustin]

I got the Boomba BOV adapter installed. 

 

 

Before pulling it out of the package I thought that the design of the adapter would allow for a pathway for unfiltered air to go into the intake. So before installing it I just set up a DIY vent to atmosphere that didn't require the adapter but served the same purpose. All I did was disconnect the bypass valve hose from the intake side, clock it downward a few degrees, and capped the intake. Taking off the bypass valve made it easy to get to the hose clamps. It accomplished what the adapter did with stock parts just by leaving the hose open.

 

 

Once I took the Boomba BOV adapter out of the package I realized it did NOT leave any pathway for unfiltered air and the install was easier than the DIY setup and it looks cleaner. 

Edited August 31, 2021 by itsnotdustin

[itsnotdustin]

I also installed the Cravenspeed phone mount while I was at it. The car just doesn't have enough general storage to put a phone in while driving. 

 

[sdpupillo]

Welcome aboard! Car looks great and like the direction you headed. I wanted to acquire stock 21" wheels for my sport, but the stock 20" are growing on me. Especially with the wider variety of tires available.

 

Congrats on the new car!

[itsnotdustin]

I got the tuner delivered and installed. The Livewire TS+ is better than I remember it but the touchscreen feedback is still pretty bad since it uses old resistive touch screen tech. It's nice having the gauge readouts so I can see just how bad the factory intercooler is. Coolant temps stay around 200 no matter the driving so I know the radiator works better than the intercooler. Otherwise, everything else seems in check. 

 

I went with Unleashed Tuning and the experience has been pretty seamless. A few short and sweet emails to Torrie and I had my tunes loaded and ready to go. Initial impression wasn't very remarkable. I definitely get pushed into the seat more in the lower gears, but the higher gears feel only moderately better. With that said the vehicle is completely stock and I know mods and some datalogging will go a long way. Once the intake, exhaust, and thermostat are install I will be datalogging and fine tuning to get the most of it. 

 

In the meantime, does anyone know any easy path to route the obd2 wire for the tuner? I may just leave it unplugged most of the time since I don't want the wire hanging around. 

 

 

Update - I noticed there was an access panel to the left of the steering wheel. On previous years it was a small storage drawer. Either way I knew it would be a great place to run the wire and mount the tuner without having to drill holes or pop big panels off and risk breaking anything. The mounting position turned out great and the wire stays bundled behind the panel and run through the hole where your hand goes. All I had to do was stick on a suction cup mount disk. 

 

Edited September 6, 2021 by itsnotdustin

[itsnotdustin]

24 minutes ago, sdpupillo said:

Welcome aboard! Car looks great and like the direction you headed. I wanted to acquire stock 21" wheels for my sport, but the stock 20" are growing on me. Especially with the wider variety of tires available.

 

Congrats on the new car!

 

Thanks!

Edited September 1, 2021 by itsnotdustin

[onyxbfly]

On 8/21/2021 at 8:53 PM, itsnotdustin said:

Good input. No doubt it will be a stiffer tire and I'll look into those shocks. 

 

I'm a fan of the TSW Clypse. I was looking as the Niche Essen which is very similar with thinner spokes. Both solid wheels.

 

I'll keep the post updated with fitment and ride quality updates.

 

The Niche Essen is a good looking wheel!  Thanks for adding another layer to the never ending saga of paralysis via analysis. LOL

[onyxbfly]

On 8/30/2021 at 9:15 PM, itsnotdustin said:

I also installed the Cravenspeed phone mount while I was at it. The car just doesn't have enough general storage to put a phone in while driving. 

 

 

You have a great eye for photos! If you're not a photographer you may have missed your calling.

[itsnotdustin]

JLT catch can came in today. The fit and finish on it was perfect. Install was so easy.

 

Edited September 3, 2021 by itsnotdustin

[itsnotdustin]

The wheels and tires got delivered. I'm going to test fit for wheels for backspacing clearance first then will go get them mounted up by this weekend. I will get some better pictures loaded eventually. 

 

 

Edited September 8, 2021 by itsnotdustin

[onyxbfly]

My Precious........

 

Seriously tho.. those wheels look sharp!!

[itsnotdustin]

Educational post: The test fit didn't go as expected. While the backspacing seems to be close but perfectly fine, the wheel might be sticking out of the fender by a small amount. I will do another test fit with the suspension loaded to get an idea of where the fitment will be with the car on the ground. It's hard to tell how it will look with a tire mounted. 

 

Wheel Size - 21x10.5

Offset - +45mm

Backspacing - 7.5"

 

I tried to find other examples of what the wheels will look like and this is the closest I could find which looks good in my opinion.....but I dont want to mount my tires and not like the look considering they arent returnable at that point  - 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 9, 2021 by itsnotdustin

[Special_K]

1 hour ago, itsnotdustin said:

Educational post: The test fit didn't go as expected. While the backspacing seems to be close but perfectly fine, the wheel might be sticking out of the fender by a small amount. I will do another test fit with the suspension loaded to get an idea of where the fitment will be with the car on the ground. It's hard to tell how it will look with a tire mounted. 

 

Wheel Size - 21x10.5

Offset - +45mm

Backspacing - 7.5"

 

I tried to find other examples of what the wheels will look like and this is the closest I could find which looks good in my opinion.....but I dont want to mount my tires and not like the look considering they arent returnable at that point  - 

 

 

 

 

 

Damn, looks like a +35 would have been perfect! 

[itsnotdustin]

2 hours ago, Special_K said:

 

Damn, looks like a +35 would have been perfect! 

 

After looking at the other Edge with 22x10.5 wheels, I'm going to give these another test fit. The other Edge's fitment looked good and while the offset wasn't listed....it has to be close or the same as what I have. If it doesn't work out, I'll have to swap to the 21x9. It'll be a guaranteed fit but its out of stock for a couple months.

[itsnotdustin]

I decided to stick with the wheels and had the tires mounted. The wheels are pretty flush with the fender and overall the stance is aggressive but not overdone. The 10.5" width wheels  makes the car look planted. the 265/40's have a slight stretch but looks great on the car. Overall completely stoked on appearance. The backspacing is tight but has 0 interference.  I felt no discernable difference in ride quality. 

 

 

Edited October 4, 2021 by itsnotdustin

[sdpupillo]

Looks great!

[onyxbfly]

I see what you did there. No pun intended! Stance is on point!  You're in Florida! Its easy to understand and appreciate your view on ride-ability and comfort with stretched tires etc..

I'm in Philly where the highways are slightly better than most streets and that's subjective to what part of Philly you're in. Two benefits of having abysmal street conditions is: one rarely rushes through Philly because the streets can eat your wheels and tires alive and you actually save gas.

 

Great pics!

 

 

 

 

 

[itsnotdustin]

1 hour ago, onyxbfly said:

I see what you did there. No pun intended! Stance is on point!  You're in Florida! Its easy to understand and appreciate your view on ride-ability and comfort with stretched tires etc..

I'm in Philly where the highways are slightly better than most streets and that's subjective to what part of Philly you're in. Two benefits of having abysmal street conditions is: one rarely rushes through Philly because the streets can eat your wheels and tires alive and you actually save gas.

 

Great pics!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks! Yeah I'm pretty lucky with the roads around my area. There are potholes but most are avoidable. I forgot to mention that this set up is noticeably lighter than the stock 20's. Pretty impressive considering these are 1" taller and 2.5" wider. 

[itsnotdustin]

Mudflaps installed. I'll say I copied @tsquale on this after I saw them post a picture in the gallery last week. 

 

These are amazon mudflaps but the fit is pretty solid. I had no idea how to use the included hardware on the front flaps considering there was nothing to screw into once the factory push pins were removed. I ended up having to order 6 u-clip fasteners and 2 christmas tree fasteners to get the front installed. The u-clips and bolts went into the wheel well while the christmas tree fastener went into the bottom. The rear flaps used factory hardware with no issue. After install they are rock solid.

 

Edited September 14, 2021 by itsnotdustin

[tsquale]

@itsnotdustin  looks great! 

[itsnotdustin]

Update: After install I had a nasty pulse/hum every time I started up the car but stopped shortly after. After some googling I decided to disable Active Noise Cancelling in the car. To do this with FORScan, go to the DACMC module to disable it. You can also disable Engine Noise Enhancement while you're in there. 

 

Started the amp install starting with the power wire, which is always the hardest part. I used this forum for help. A couple posts in particular. 

The first post pointed me in the direction of a large plug on the firewall that is unused. I used a uni-bit to drill a hole just large enough for the wire and ran it through. It's soft rubber so no grommet was required. This plug is accessible behind the battery. I was able to fish the the wire through using a magnetic pick-up which did not require me to unhook the battery, only slide it forward. The second post pointed me to a good ground location near the factory amp. I didn't want to pull any panels unless I had to so I'm glad I found this post because I wouldn't have found a solid ground otherwise.

 

Since I'll be using an LOC for audio signal, I ordered a blown factory Ford sub and will be pulling the green harness of off that to plug into the factory harness. I try to avoid cutting or tapping into factory wires as much as possible, so instead I will unplug the factory sub in the car and wire up the LOC to the spare plug I ordered. The LOC I bought also acts as the fuse/remote wire and will trigger the amp when an audio signal is heard. 

 

 

 

A note for the picture above: The wire that I have grounded along with the amp wire was just hanging loose when I first looked behind the panel. I don't know if its supposed to be grounded or not. If anyone knows what that ground wire does, I'm curious to find out. 

 

 

Im not much for wire management as long as it is hidden and easily removeable. I drilled a few holes in the foam container. 1 for power, 1 for ground, and a notch for the speaker wires and loc wires. 

 

 

This is the speaker setup I had from my old suv. I will probably get rid of 2 subs and switch from a sealed to a vented box. 

Edited October 3, 2021 by itsnotdustin