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So 4A is not what I had thought...

da_jokker

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Over the last couple years there has been several discussions about 4A, along with all the "rules" about using 4x4 in high traction environments (like the street).

I've even contributed to multiple threats about 4A where the thought process was that it's in two-wheel drive unless it's senses slippage and then it kicks into 4 wheel drive.

This is not the case and Ford has seemed to have reinvented physics :)

All of us that have SPORT mode know that 4A engages with this GOAT and it is specifically designed for the street. Now that goes against the "No 4x4 on street" rule. However with the mentality that the 4A/4H doesn't kick in until it needs to, it should not be an issue.

Well I've been playing around with 4A and watching the "power distribution" and a bunch of us, including myself, we're wrong with our assumptions.

4A basically has the vehicle in 4x4 mode pretty much the entire time. There are some inconsistencies, but the only time that I've seen it NOT applying power to all wheels is when off the throttle, or I think, if you have the steering significantly turned BEFORE applying throttle.

To give you some examples, going 75 mph down the freeway and giving it some throttle = 4 wheel drive

Throttling while going through twisty turns on a mountain road = 4 wheel drive.

To me the scariest.... Doing a U-turn at a light (which requires throttle) = 4 wheel drive.

Like I said, there have been a couple of situations when I was testing, and if I turn the steering wheel significantly Before applying the throttle, it seems = 2 wheel drive.

I don't get me wrong, I love the feel of basically AWD... It's been storming (rain) all week where I live, and in 4A, the Bronco has been planted and not a single wheel slip.

I just hope Ford design this correctly and taking windy roads in sports mode isn't going to break something.
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Rob_Broncowski

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My understanding is that 4A uses clutch packs to provide power to the front wheels. This allows for the necessary slip to compensate for any differences in wheel speed. In traditional 4H/4L you are relying on wheel slip itself to do this (hence why it should only be used in slippery conditions). It's the same principle just implemented in transfer case instead of at the wheels.
 

Frankie945

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I think it only stops sending power to the front wheels when the steering is turned close to full lock other than that its just like normal 4 high. Ive messed with it too several times and thats my conclusion.
 

Ducati1098

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I just hope Ford design this correctly and taking windy roads in sports mode isn't going to break something.
You do realize that bronco isn’t the first Ford vehicle to have 4A right? F150’s have had this for a long time with zero issues.

4A is just an electronically controlled 4wd, it’s not 2wd that turns into 4wd.

The only time the clutch is disengaged is low speeds, low acceleration (throttle position) or tight turning.

In the event that it detects excessive stress or high energy going through the clutch it will also disengage it, which is why it’s acceptable for all road conditions
 

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Cygnusx1

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I guess I don’t understand what the mystery is and have seen concerns about this in numerous posts. Since 2000, I’ve had several German cars with permanent AWD systems that drove all 4 wheels all the time and distributed power to any of the wheels as needed (merc e320/e500/e350) all 4matic. And now have a cayenne with AWD (that incidentally also can lock the transfer case and rear diff). These cars are always AWD, are shifting power as needed, where needed through the use of unlocked transfer case and differentials. The bronco does the same in 4A, except that it appears to have 100% bias to the rear when coasting (not accelerating or otherwise experiencing slippage). In 4A you can accelerate through a Uturn on dry pavement and not bind up your tranny (unlike 4H or 4L). When it is rainy out, I stick mine in 4A and go about my business and drive like I normally would with no worries about what it is doing to tranny.
 

GPPBronco

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I think that’s right. Bronco taps into a segment of the car buying public that generally has driven American 2WD or 4x4 vehicles (until recently with all the AWD car-based crossovers). I remember the first time I drove a Subaru I expected I would need to engage the AWD but it’s just always on. 4A on the 6G just seems like a more robust AWD system. People are overthinking this.
 

Boreal

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If you input a steering angle that can cause the driveline to bind, it drops to 2wd. Cruising at highway speed with minimal throttle percentage, it’s rolling in 2wd.

If I understand the literature correctly, the t-case’s clutch setup allows the systems to vary power being distributed to the front axle (even if the PDM shows 50%) in the event of slippage - but in reality it’s almost always feeding some amount to the front the moment it sees you tip in the throttle.

Other than very low speed cornering, you are in 4A (a slippable version of 4H) this system is very proactive and not reactive like other OEM’s methodologies.
 
 





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