I was on the highway in heavy rain and noticed that most of the time power was just going to the rear tires. When I slowed down, I’d get a more balanced distribution, but at around 110 km/h, it felt like it was slipping a bit, especially when changing lanes. I’m used to AWD and front-wheel-drive cars, so maybe this is just different, but I expected it to keep all four wheels engaged in rain. I was cruising with some friends in front-wheel and 4x4 cars who seemed fine going faster, but I didn’t want to push it.
Usually, the system sticks to powering the rear wheels unless you’re accelerating or it senses a slip. It’s almost the opposite of AWD, which starts with the front wheels and sends power to the back if needed. You can change the sensitivity a bit with GOAT mode; Slippery mode, for instance, will be more responsive than Normal. Also, tire type matters a lot. Off-road tires, like the ones that come on many Broncos, don’t handle rain on pavement the same way as standard road tires. Hitting puddles at speed with off-road tires can feel like you’re just pushing through the water.
@Sage
My Explorer ST is rear-wheel drive focused… I kinda like it that way.
Cade said:
@Sage
My Explorer ST is rear-wheel drive focused… I kinda like it that way.
Yeah, it depends a lot on the type of vehicle. Most AWD cars and small SUVs on the road are front-wheel-drive based, but bigger SUVs and trucks usually lean toward rear-wheel drive. Subaru even has some AWD models that focus more on the rear wheels.
@Sage
Great breakdown of how it works 
@Sage
Biggest difference is AWD has a central differential. The Bronco doesn’t, so when it sends power to the front, both axles rotate at the same speed, which isn’t ideal on winding roads.
110?
Tristan said:
110?
110 km/h
Tristan said:
110?
110 km/h
Got it. When you say slipping, do you mean hydroplaning a bit or full-on sliding?
Tru said:
Tristan said:
110?
110 km/h
Got it. When you say slipping, do you mean hydroplaning a bit or full-on sliding?
Not full sliding, just felt a bit unsteady, especially when overtaking with all the water spray from other cars.
@Tru
That sounds like hydroplaning. It’s more about tire tread, speed, and the water depth. Hydroplaning can happen no matter which wheels are getting power.
@Tru
I’m in Ontario and haven’t had our Bronco through winter yet, but with my F150, I’ve noticed 4H gives better traction than 4A when you need that extra grip. 4A doesn’t have a central differential, unlike some AWD cars like the Nissan Rogue, where it kicks in automatically.
With 4A, it’s like 2H until it needs 4H. That’s what the ‘auto’ part is doing.