Rear End Feels Like It’s Stepping Out When Turning — Worse in Rain?

[DaisytheBronco]

Hey guys! Hoping some of you more knowledgeable Bronco owners can point me in the right direction because I’m having a hard time describing exactly what I’m feeling.


I have a 2022 Bronco Big Bend 4-door. My tires are in good condition, but lately I’ve noticed some strange handling that is MUCH more noticeable when the roads are wet.


If I’m driving straight in the rain and give it some gas, sometimes it feels like the Bronco briefly loses traction/hydroplanes. But the weirder part is when I’m turning. It almost feels like the rear end shifts or steps out toward the outside of the turn — like the back of the Bronco/axle is trying to go in a slightly different direction than the rest of the vehicle. For example, during a turn I can sometimes feel the rear move toward the right and then the vehicle correct itself.


I don’t mean that the vehicle is vibrating or shaking, and I’m not saying the axle is literally moving in another direction — that’s just the best way I can describe the sensation. It feels like the rear isn’t staying completely planted or following the front of the vehicle normally through the turn.


It’s especially noticeable in the rain, and I do a lot of South Florida/highway driving. I’m going to try Slippery G.O.A.T. mode in wet conditions to see if the added traction management makes a difference.


Has anyone experienced anything similar? Could this just be the rear losing traction, or is there anything Bronco-specific I should have checked — rear suspension/linkage, alignment, differential/axle, 4WD system, etc.? I’m trying to figure out where to start before taking it in.


2022 Big Bend 4-door. Any advice is appreciated!

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[stevenstommyboy1]

When you say the tires are in good shape, are they original and how much tread? What kind of tire? My Bronco gets a little squirrelly in the rain on the KO2s and they are in great shape. Maybe time for some shoes for your truck.

 

[DaisytheBronco]

When you say the tires are in good shape, are they original and how much tread? What kind of tire? My Bronco gets a little squirrelly in the rain on the KO2s and they are in great shape. Maybe time for some shoes for your truck.

Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT

I THINK
likely around the 255/75R17 or 265/70R17 size range

32 inch.

what does new shoes mean??🥲

 

[stevenstommyboy1]

New tires = new shoes. Those tires are bad in the Florida rains. Over time tread compound can get hard and lose that grip you get when they are new. I usually change out tires every 4-5 years regardless of tread detph due to this issue.

 

[Dan-O]

I agree with @stevenstommyboy1. May be time for some new tires. Now if tire shop says tires are good then it may be something else.

 

[Oilbrnr]

My bet is the electronic stability goodies are applying the inside rear brake.

*combine with marginal wet performance of the tires.

 

[DaisytheBronco]

New tires = new shoes. Those tires are bad in the Florida rains. Over time tread compound can get hard and lose that grip you get when they are new. I usually change out tires every 4-5 years regardless of tread detph due to this issue.

okay thank you. yeah these tires are only 2 years old tread looks fine. Think it would help to put it on slippery mode?

 

[DALOLA]

Next time it rains, grab a knowledgeable co-pilot, and find an empty parking lot.

Sounds like hydroplaning to me, but I'm just speculating based on your description. Needs to be verified in real-time.

Slippery mode will mute the throttle response, so should be more stable when accelerating, unless you compensate by applying more throttle.

 

[VIRUS]

mine did what you are describing before changing suspension.
Its a 22 Badlands sasquatch. Switched to Eibach coilovers and it went away completely.
Now, my Eibachs are toast. 35k on them and 3 of the four leaked fluid.
its back to riding worse than before the new suspension.
With what you are describing and what I have experienced, I would have the suspension checked

 

[BigMeatsBronco]

okay thank you. yeah these tires are only 2 years old tread looks fine. Think it would help to put it on slippery mode?

Yes slippery mode will help some.

 

[Machz963]

This is a bot

 

[Oldhippie]

I would look at something loose in the rear suspension…if it didn’t do it and now it does there is a problem back there…have it checked out by a good alignment/suspension shop…tires don’t often go wonky all the sudden…good luck!

 

[Area51BS]

Put KO2’s on and it becomes far worse. 4A corrects it. Not necessarily, but applies power differently resulting a safer drive.

 

[Techun]

My bet is the electronic stability goodies are applying the inside rear brake.

*combine with marginal wet performance of the tires.

You think esc is increasing yaw rate in the wet?

 

[Oilbrnr]

You think esc is increasing yaw rate in the wet?

Yup. Unless the dude has a trackbar bushing issue (or other rear bushing problem) my bet from personal experience is ESC. It does give a strange sensation.

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