• Sign Up! To view all forums and unlock additional cool features

    Welcome to the #1 Explorer ST Forum and Explorer ST community dedicated to Explorer ST owners and enthusiasts. Register for an account, it's free and it's easy, so don't hesitate to join the Explorer ST Forum today!


4WD or AWD?

Messages
1,138
Reactions
705
Points
162
Location
East Freetown, MA
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST, Silver Spruce Metalic
#1
I've done a ton of searching and reading on this and I still don't understand. Everything I have on my vehicle (window sticker, specs sheet, owners manual and dash display) all say it's 4WD. The explanation of the system on the Ford site says it's 4WD. But in so many other places it says it's AWD. Based on my knowledge of how the systems work, it appears to be 4WD. I don't see any difference from the older models with automatic 4WD other than it monitors a lot more information. An AWD continuously send torque to both the front and rear wheels. The 98 Explorer I had was AWD and it basically just didn't have an actuator to connect/disconnect the transfer case to the transmission. My moms 07 Freestyle is AWD and it has a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) which distributes torque to all four wheel. So, what am I missing here? I think this is just a matter of terminology and not technology.
 

Messages
6
Reactions
4
Points
2
Location
Clear Lake
Vehicle
2025 Explorer
#2
Good question! I have been wondering about the same thing.
 

Messages
1,664
Reactions
805
Points
162
Location
Nevada
Vehicle
'20 Raptor, '22 Explorer ST, '14 GT500, '03 F150
#3
It definitely is technology. Our cars are AWD. Automatic or Intelligent 4wd is AWD. Some marketing person at corporate has caused this confusion. There are different transfer cases that utilize different ways of using AWD. 4wd utilizes a transfer case that forces the car to be in 4wd high, 4wd low, or 2wd all the time. AWD is electronically controlled, with usually no user input, and usually uses a series of clutches to send a certain amount of power (it usually varies) to the front or rear wheels. Most of the time, newer AWD cars will automotically disconnect the front or rear wheels under low-load circumstances for efficiency. Our cars use different actuators and clutches to disconnect or increase the power sent to the front wheels.
 

Messages
60
Reactions
21
Points
7
Location
North West
Vehicle
2022 Explorer ST
#4
I wouldn't say it's definately technology. I'd say it's both. Ford called their 2nd generation Explorer AWD but it was basically just locked in 4WD high. The transfer case just didn't have an actuator. Not all 4WD vehicles had 2WD, 4WD High and 4WD Low. When they came out with the automatic 4WD it was either 2WD or 4WD High. The Explorer ST is kind of the same. The transfer case (or PTU as it's called) is just more advanced. I had an Eagle Talon (which was based on the Mitsubishi Galant) and it was true AWD. There was no transfer case. It had a viscous coupling, (a fluid-filled coupling that automatically adjusts power distribution based on wheel slip), in place of a regular transmission. The Freestyle AWD that @BrooseDaMoose is talking about used a similar set up. The Explorer ST does have a wet clutch but that doesn't make it AWD. Torque is not distributed to the individual wheels by the transfer case. All it does is distribute the torque between the front and rear differentials. The differentials are also "open" differentials so the display you see in the dash is not correct. Torque is not equally applied to all four wheels at the same time.
 

OP
BrooseDaMoose
Messages
1,138
Reactions
705
Points
162
Location
East Freetown, MA
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST, Silver Spruce Metalic
Thread Starter #5
I was afraid of this. It depends who you talk to or what site you visit as to whether it’s 4WD or AWD. While I agree with some of the above, I don’t think it’s all correct. I did see the transfer case referred to as a PTU (Power Transfer Unit) in a few places. Maybe that’s why some say it’s AWD. I’ll just have to dig into it more. I can say, the first issue I had with my vehicle was that the actuator got stuck. I had a C00A6 - 4WD/AWD Transfer Case Unit Actuator code stating “Actuator Stuck”. It was stuck in the locked position. Whenever I made a turn, it felt just like my Ranger feels when making a turn while in 4WD. Like the inside wheel is slipping. Not sure how else to explain it other than it just felt “rough”. If anyone has a good explanation of how the transfer case (or PTU) works or knows a site that explains it, please share. I’m really curious about how it works.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Messages
60
Reactions
21
Points
7
Location
North West
Vehicle
2022 Explorer ST
#6
Exactly what don't you agree with?
 

OP
BrooseDaMoose
Messages
1,138
Reactions
705
Points
162
Location
East Freetown, MA
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST, Silver Spruce Metalic
Thread Starter #7
I found a couple good reads on Car and Driver that explains AWD and 4WD systems.
AWD vs. 4WD
AWD Systems Explained
The only thing throwing me off is what they mention as "unnerving shudder" when the system binds up. That's what I was trying to describe that was happening when my actuator got stuck. However, I'm leaning more towards the AWD side.
 

powerboatr

Active Member
U.S. Navy Veteran
Messages
693
Reactions
440
Points
82
Location
Texas
Vehicle
2023 Explorer ST
#8
Tomatoe. Tomatooo
It's awd for all intents
Watch the power distribution thing in the IPC
Front is indicating they get tq or power almost all rhe time
Even at highway speeds if you accelerate a small bit
It's a full time one speed trans case...no neutral..which is weird..because explorer is perfect size to be used as recreational towing 4 down behind a motorhome
The computer applies or removes tq to any wheel
And applies or removes clutch pressures as needed to distribute tq to wheels
My 22 f150 had 2 speed t case with a 4Auto setting..which engaged front end very similar to what the st does..puts tq to front all the time .
Makes for a very stable sporty drive on curvy roads.
Ford needs to get the labeling right and stop using 10 different definitions.
My insurance company lists it as AWD snd thus discount over 2WD models.
For me...it does not matter
As the computer ensures the wheels that slip...don't get the same tq
And car xoom zooms
 

OP
BrooseDaMoose
Messages
1,138
Reactions
705
Points
162
Location
East Freetown, MA
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST, Silver Spruce Metalic
Thread Starter #9
Exactly what don't you agree with?
The part about Automatic 4WD being kind of the same as our Explorer ST's. The PTU is nothing like a transfer case in an old gen 2 Explorer.
 

OP
BrooseDaMoose
Messages
1,138
Reactions
705
Points
162
Location
East Freetown, MA
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST, Silver Spruce Metalic
Thread Starter #10
It's a full time one speed trans case...
I'm just confused about one thing. If it's a full time transfer case, what is the actuator for? I though it connected and disconnected the transfer case from the transmission.
 

Messages
60
Reactions
21
Points
7
Location
North West
Vehicle
2022 Explorer ST
#11
I'm just confused about one thing. If it's a full time transfer case, what is the actuator for? I though it connected and disconnected the transfer case from the transmission.
It's not full time. The 4WD Actuator does exactly what you said. And I didn't say the transfer cases were the same! I said they were KIND OF the same. The one major difference is that the ST's PTU can adjust how much torque goes to the front. The older transfer case was a 50/50 split.
 

Cruising68

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,701
Reactions
1,246
Points
262
Location
Chicago, IL, USA
#12
To an old school guy like me, I describe it more as computer controlled 4wd, and not the traditional old school 4wd. To me, an awd is full time viscous coupling, no clutch, awd. Like the original Audi Quattro drive which is outstanding. No interaction required, person or computer, as it automatically adjusts torque at each wheel. To me, the ST is more an auto 4wd that requires mechanical interaction to alter torque. Both front and rear diffs are open and not lockers. Meaning both wheels are not driven at the same time. The only way to get torque from a slipping wheel to the non slipping wheel is to apply the brake to the slipping wheel or to engage the clutch in the Ptu to send more power to the front.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

KCM

New Member
Messages
15
Reactions
5
Points
2
Location
Nebraska
Vehicle
2020 Ford Explorer ST
#13
The line between AWD and FWD/4X4 is pretty blurred today. Originally 4WD was the rugged offroad driving all four wheels mechanical drivetrain, the first grandaddy system. High range, low range, and 2WD. Then AWD came around, which seemed to be used when cars started driving all four wheels (not counting AMC which is a different animal). Back in the 1980's when the Tempo and Topaz had it, it was called All Wheel Drive. Now all systems are high tech mechanical with electronics.

I think rather than differentiating the mechanical components and technology, it refers more to the purpose of the vehicle. Vehicles that say AWD are for use on the roads only, not for off roading. Ones that say 4WD/4X4 are able to go offroad to some extent. Of course, the definition of offroad may be a gravel road to one person and rock climbing to another. Our Explorers have the trail mode, which I guess would qualify as off road, but I wouldn't take it rock climbing. Something like an Edge, Escape, or Fusion are AWD and I wouldn't take them far off road. Not sure if rear drive factors in, but maybe it does if the previous FWD based chassis Explorer was called AWD.
 



Top