AIRTEC / BRC PERFORMANCE DOWNPIPE BRACKET INSTALL! | FOCUS RS

I install the Airtec Motorsport Downpipe Bracket on my Ford Focus RS MK3!

I go over the part and it's benefits as well as the steps required to install it. It is not just great looking / aesthetically pleasing but also beautifully machined, light weight and all feels very high quality!

Designed in partnership with BRC Performance, the Airtec downpipe bracket for MK3 Focus RS and ST is a beautifully machined and beautifully simple upgrade.

Replacing the stock part, it brings to the table multiple benefits. It is made from CNC machined aluminium so it is chunky yet light and very precisely made. Compare this to the stock bracket which is made from pressed steel with a very thin profile, the Airtec piece is stronger and more sturdy while actually being lighter!

The next benefit is with the uprated hanger bushings. The stock bracket uses rubber bushings which are very squishy. While this is fine in stock form, if you upgrade your downpipe to a larger bore sports cat or decat, the excess movement in the stock bushings is likely to lead to the downpipe knocking. The Airtec/BRC bracket resolves this by using stiffer silicone bushings. An added benefit to silicone as the upgrade material as opposed to polyurethane is that silicone has a much wider heat operating window meaning it can withstand higher temps and it's operational status remain unaffected by the high temperatures seen in the downpipe area.

The operational life of silicone is also much longer than rubber so all in all the material choices in this product are excellent!

Being nice and shiny it really does look sweet in the engine bay, being just view-able behind where the downpipe connects to the exhaust!

Installation was OK, the concept is pretty simple - 2 bolts off, remove hangers then the opposite with the new bracket - there were some difficulties though.

My normal approach to any install is to unbolt / remove as few parts as possible in order to keep the install process as simple as possible with least risk for damaging things as possible. So I had hoped to be able to wiggle / manipulate the old bracket off and wiggle / manipulate the new bracket on without removing any bits of the under side of the car and not unbolting the exhaust or the downpipe itself.

I was able to get the stock bracket off (just about), mainly because of the soft rubber bushings. Getting the new Airtec / BRC bracket on though was not so easy.

I got one of the bushings over the hanger but because the new bracket is chunkier and bending the bushings is much less of a thing, it just wouldn't go on the second hanger. I had to then resort to removing the subframe plate that is just beside where the bracket mounts in order to allow a little bit more movement of the downpipe and thus just about get the bracket squeezed on. It was certainly a bit tough but I am happy to have the part on and happy that I only had to remove that one subframe plate as it wasn't too much extra work.

Therefore I would say remove this plate from the start (it makes working with the bracket bolts a little easier too) or indeed do this install at the same time as installing a new sports cat or decat downpipe as there will be very easy access with the downpipe removed.

Airtec say about the downpipe bracket:
AIRTEC Motorsport Downpipe Bracket for Focus Mk3 ST/RS – in partnership with BRC Performance.
This billet downpipe bracket has been designed to replace the original Ford bracket and its weak rubber mounting that is allows flex and is prone to fail over time.
Our precision CNC-machined alloy bracket is a direct replacement that offers more support for the downpipe and exhaust system.
It features two heat resistant silicone bush inserts to provide a more rigid mounting and permanently reduce flex.
-Improved support and rigidity
-Precision billet CNC machined
-Lightweight alloy construction
-Heat resistant silicone bush inserts
-Direct replacement fitting
-Registered design right number: 6093147
-AIRTEC part no: ATMSFO107

Link to Airtec Motorsport Downpipe Bracket:
https://www.autospecialists.co.uk/pro...

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