The 4A Advantage

[ejaffe]

I agree, 4A works really well. That's my "slippery" mode. This way the throttle response stays the same. I use it in rain and snow just to stay safe. That said, I was in 2H through a snow storm and that worked really well too. Just lost some traction going up steep inclines.

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[crenca]

I'm curious about this as well. On the power distribution screen my manual is showing equal power to all four corners in all gears.

That seems odd. Mine sends power to the front seamlessly and quickly. We had about 10 inches of sleet, snow and ice this past week and I never had a reason to use anything but 4A. Everything was fully covered so I could’ve used 4H without any damage to the drivetrain, but I didn’t need to.

I watch the power distribution screen in my manual all the time and it does seem funky at times. No power at all to the front, the equal distribution when there is no reason to be using the fronts at all. I'm not sure how accurate it is, but I've seen it do some backwards stuff.

I have a 24 manual 2.3L SAS. I'm not completely certain if the "Power Distribution" gauge is a real-time gauge (as opposed to some theoretical graphic created by a marketing guy) but I believe it is based on the behavior of the Bronco on and off road.

4A appears to be a mostly speed sensitive and steering input based system. Below 30mph, with steering pointed straight through to medium turns, it distributes power to both axles equally (at least most of the time). Steer heavily in either direction under 30mph, and it cuts back torque to front axle, but not completely. Over 30mph it starts cutting back on front axle torque distribution, going to rear drive only by 40mph (or there about). In reverse (thankfully) it seems to only distribute torque to the rear axle.

Being a clutch base system, it also (unless Ford programed too much lock up) should be differentiating even when sending 50% of torque to the front axel. I can confirm when offroading through areas that require large amounts of steering input, I do not get any wind up ("bind") in the driveline as I do through same sections in 4H/4L.

edit: In the past when off-roading I thought I have felt a small but significant delay before torque distribution occurs to the front axel. I no longer think that is the case, the system seems to be always distributing some torque to the front axel at slow speeds...I think...pretty sure...lol

 

[Canyon Coolers]

Is there a difference between 4A alone or using Slippery mode? When I engage 4A "manually" via the button, power seems to go primarily to the rear wheels and only to the front under harder acceleration or when slipping. In Slippery mode, it seems as if power is primarily spread evenly among all four wheels.

Also had a few other questions about 4A and 4H:
1. What is the highest speed you can be driving when engaging 4A or 4H?
2. What is the max speed you can drive in once in 4A or 4H?

Side note...I tried to look this up in the digital manual in the Bronco and while I have the Advanced 4x4 in my Badlands, the manual only includes instructions for the regular 4x4 system.

You answered your own question to a degree. The modes can change the throttle response, turbo spooling, and how aggressive the traction control is. For example Sport Mode has aggressive throttle which isn't ideal on ice. Whereas Baja will loosen the traction control and allow you to drift a dirt corner at speed. I think using the right Mode makes a small but meaningful difference in matching the truck to the terrain.

I've had 4H up to 100mph + in a lake bed. 4A as well. I would not do the same on pavement in 4H.

Hope that helps

 

[SkiSquatch]

This is a pretty decent article, I’ve been rereading every fall…https://thebronconation.com/winter-driving-in-the-new-2021-ford-bronco/

 

[Emilian]

I drive in 4A 90% of the time in all conditions. I call it "Subaru mode".

I also switch to 4A for the season. That way, my wife and I do not have to think too much about road conditions during season between late Fall - early Spring. Although, I would recommend checking out Slippery/Snow GOAT mode. I have always been trying to drive that way when snow, sleet and ice start accumulating before we got Badlands but could not always be 100% successful. Slippery/Snow GOAT mode works 99% seamlessly. It would probably take few years of driving on dayly bases in ROAD conditions like that to develop necessary muscle memory and drive close to what this particular GOAT mode enables us to do. OFFROAD - totally different story . I enjoy that too. Overall, Bronco keeps impressing!

 

[indio22]

I drive our Subaru 90% of the time #winning.

My Subaru BRZ rear wheel drive with all traction control off - power slides ftw.

 

[SkiSquatch]

In mid to northern New England, I’m always in 4a in the winter. Road conditions change too quickly to adjust manually, from dry pavement to black ice patches and random snow squalls. I’ve had no issues or even ‘oh f*** moments’ happen in 4a. Of course, I’m not driving stupid in snow storms either.

 

[Skeeterjack]

You don’t know you have it till you don’t. Makes those unexpected snow drifts on the highway manageable.

 

[PC Austin]

The problem I have with 4a is the time it takes send power to the front wheels .I find the bronco rear wheels lose traction alot .So I use 4 h in ice and snow!

4A seems to be instant as this video shows. The Ford Bronco Really Annoyed Me on the TFL Slip Test...and Here's Why! - YouTube I run with 4A all the time.

 

[Amochosto]

I'm curious about this as well. On the power distribution screen my manual is showing equal power to all four corners in all gears.

Mine too.

 

[crenca]

4A seems to be instant as this video shows. The Ford Bronco Really Annoyed Me on the TFL Slip Test...and Here's Why! - YouTube I run with 4A all the time.

Thanks for posting this. Those guys (that son & dad team) have good production value, but seem to lack knowledge at times so I don't regularly track them and I did not know they did this test.

That said,given the results of the two wheel slip test, there seems to be as many questions as answers here. Maybe the traction control had detected slipage when he drove onto the two roller pads and thus was still engaged?? Still, it appears 4A works as the "power distribution" gauge indicates - it is usually (excepting at high steering angles) distributing torque to front axle at low speed, and not waiting until slippage is detected first.

 

[KnoxGnater]

Agreed 4A is handy. But when you find an empty parking lot fully covered in snow and ice try “Fun” mode.

Baja on the goat dial
4L
Both lockers on
Press and hold traction control for 5 seconds to turn off Stability nannies
Maximum turn lock
Hammer down

Enjoy, and watch out for those pesky light poles.

 

[Amochosto]

I kinda came to the opposite conclusion after driving the Bronco in snowy/sleety/icy conditions for the first time a week ago.

Now, like many of you, I've been driving in snow for a long time (almost 40 years) and only one of the vehicles I've ever owned has had AWD/4WD, and all my vehicles up until the Bronco, have been cars that are at least a bit sporty, so you have some good things for driving in snow ie. limited slip differential, and bad things ie. lower than average ride height/clearance, wide tires etc.

I also always put on dedicated snow tires. Having read that the offroad tires my Bronco came with aren't great in snow even if they have the M+S stamp on the sidewall, I got a set of Nokkian Hakkepelita (sp?) tires.

When I was thinking about a Bronco I was almost convinced that I'd just get the default 4WD system, I thought it was kind of cool, like the 4WD on trucks back when I was a kid (albeit easier to engage). When I was a kid, I kind of liked these smallish trucks like GMC Jimmys or whatever (by that time the current Bronco was the huge F150 based thing way to big for my needs), but I never took the leap and this Bronco is my first truck ever.

So when I finally got to play in snow, I was psyched! I put it in 4L, and 4H just for fun, and tried 4A as well. Mind you, I was testing the dynamics of the vehicle in snowy/icy conditions, so I was 'responsibly' aggressive with the throttle in all drive settings, seeing how easy it is to upset the car.

Frankly, this Bronco, on those tires has so much traction in conditions, that my experience shows are among the slipperiest winter can throw at you, I was perfectly comfortable driving in RWD mode. It seems that the advanced 4WD was kind of a waste for me. Could have 4H/4L for driving through 3 feet of snow (which rarely happens where I live), and RWD for most other circumstances.

Now a couple of questions to answer,

Do I need advanced 4WD?

Do I regret getting advanced 4WD

The answer to both is, hell no.



Hopefully we get a three foot snowstorm this winter, so I can play in those conditions too!

 

[SkiSquatch]

I kinda came to the opposite conclusion after driving the Bronco in snowy/sleety/icy conditions for the first time a week ago.

Now, like many of you, I've been driving in snow for a long time (almost 40 years) and only one of the vehicles I've ever owned has had AWD/4WD, and all my vehicles up until the Bronco, have been cars that are at least a bit sporty, so you have some good things for driving in snow ie. limited slip differential, and bad things ie. lower than average ride height/clearance, wide tires etc.

I also always put on dedicated snow tires. Having read that the offroad tires my Bronco came with aren't great in snow even if they have the M+S stamp on the sidewall, I got a set of Nokkian Hakkepelita (sp?) tires.

When I was thinking about a Bronco I was almost convinced that I'd just get the default 4WD system, I thought it was kind of cool, like the 4WD on trucks back when I was a kid (albeit easier to engage). When I was a kid, I kind of liked these smallish trucks like GMC Jimmys or whatever (by that time the current Bronco was the huge F150 based thing way to big for my needs), but I never took the leap and this Bronco is my first truck ever.

So when I finally got to play in snow, I was psyched! I put it in 4L, and 4H just for fun, and tried 4A as well. Mind you, I was testing the dynamics of the vehicle in snowy/icy conditions, so I was 'responsibly' aggressive with the throttle in all drive settings, seeing how easy it is to upset the car.

Frankly, this Bronco, on those tires has so much traction in conditions, that my experience shows are among the slipperiest winter can throw at you, I was perfectly comfortable driving in RWD mode. It seems that the advanced 4WD was kind of a waste for me. Could have 4H/4L for driving through 3 feet of snow (which rarely happens where I live), and RWD for most other circumstances.

Now a couple of questions to answer,

Do I need advanced 4WD?

Do I regret getting advanced 4WD

The answer to both is, hell no.



Hopefully we get a three foot snowstorm this winter, so I can play in those conditions too!

I have the same tires, it’s a beast in bad weather, love it in the snow!!

 

[nc-hiker]

I agree. You don't need it. I enjoy having it. It's like having a Bronco and a Forester in one vehicle.

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