Hello everyone

I rarely need to use 4A and I know I've read on these forums that its perfectly fine/acceptable to leave your truck in 4A mode 24/7.

The few times I have engaged it (like recently it was very wet/severe storm) I noticed that the steering becomes a tad more 'stiffer'? Just seems harder to turn. Not by a lot but enough that it makes me wonder if it is normal, especially since people seem to run it in 4A all the time.

2H mode is easier to turn so I can't imagine why anyone would drive 4A if it always has a stiffer steering.

This normal? Or do I need to visit my dealer and have them take a look

Thanks !

 

Well, when you select 4A, you are engaging the front wheel hubs and therefore, continuously driving the front axles, differential and forward driveshaft. This should change the steering feel slightly, so I'd guess that what you're describing is normal. It's the clutches in the transfer case which keep you from having a locked drivetrain F-to-R. From everything I've read, Ford doesn't specify that 4A should not be used on pavement.

 

Steering will get tighter in 4A because hubs are engaged waiting for the electronic control to engage transfer case to put truck in 4WD. 4A can put truck in and out of 4WD at anytime. This can be done on dry or wet pavement. That is why steering feels heavy and MPG goes down a bit.

 

 

In my experience, fuel consumption increases noticeably when in 4A. I try to only use it when I need to. It is nice when you are driving on ever changing road conditions since you can just leave in in 4A on dry pavement.

And yes, I notice the steering is a little stiffer.

 

Many of us with the stripped down trucks get the same thing if they are equipped with 4X4, and below freezing, and there abouts. The system automatically locks the IWEs in for a couple miles to warm front diff on the newer trucks. My steering is heavy during that time on my XLT.

 

Are you saying my 2018 XL 4wd that does not have 4A sometimes locks in the hubs in colder weather, while in 2wd, I never heard this before.

 

What's 4A? Says the 2WD guy.

 

Yes, it does. There's so many threads relating to the IWEs on here, I'd likely spend half the day looking for the couple of them that mention this. Both threads I remember had the printed copy straight from Ford explaining this. LOL, I can't make this stuff up. There is the possibility it's in your owners manual, make that a "slim" possibility.

 

4X4 AUTOMATIC, on the Lariats and up.