Clunk? noise when shifting from Park to Drive

JeepNoma · 02-23-2009, 12:01 AM

sometimes when im parked and put it in reverse or drive the jeep makes a clunk noise and lunges a bit. What could it be?

BTW there is no delay of it going in gear. Drives smooth once in gear too.

JeepNoma · 02-23-2009, 12:07 AM

p.s. last time i got my oil changed at a jeep dealership i had them do a 23 point inspection just to make sure i wasn't missing anything it passed everything.

xGArfx · 02-23-2009, 12:28 AM

could be a bad ujoint on ur driveshaft possible id start with those. do u have a sye wit that amount of lift?

JeepNoma · 02-23-2009, 12:31 AM

thats what i thought but im putting in a 4.5" RE lift and a tera flex sye in april with a tom woods D.S.

Im hoping it not engine mounts...those are expensive to replace....

Im acutally going to go out right now to check em.... damn im so impatient. I dont think however it would shift so smooth if that was it.

plus i have revved it and the engine has never moved drastically.

xGArfx · 02-23-2009, 12:48 AM

mayb its some worn out transfer case linkage? check the bushings on it i kno that mine r shot and they make a weird noise pretty often.. o btw u should look into the hack n tap nd xj front shaft, its a great way to get ur sye done and save a bunch of cash

JeepNoma · 02-23-2009, 01:00 AM

thanks for the hack and tap idea but i have two criteria to meet...

I have two days to install the lift and sye and this is my first lift and sye...so i figure ill take all that time...

second i dont want to add another day labor doing a hack an tap i just want it there to install

its prob. not the t case linkage because its also displaying other symptoms of a u-bolt failure.

Signs and Symptoms I have right now i don't understand:

Intermittent clunk from park to drive or reverse to drive (Reverse to drive tends to be worse).

Rhythmic ticking coming from rear of vehicle while braking.

Clunk when coming to a complete stop at lights (gets worse after an hour or two of driving)

xGArfx · 02-23-2009, 01:24 AM

on the tera flex sye dont u need to remove the trasfercase and split it open to install it? seems like thats gona take a lot more time and work than just grinding and drilling a hole to me but i might be wrong. i heard you might be able to grease ur slip yolk on ur rear driveshaft, sometimes the grease dries up and it can make a clunkin noise check the FAQ i think theres a write up in there on how to grease it

**CJ7-Tim** · 02-23-2009, 07:05 AM

Intermittent clunk -> If this is not a bad u-joint, then it is normal wear of the differential. This is often called drive line lash. Years and mileage increase the spaces between the small parts inside the diff. As you shift the tranny, the slack is taken up, and results in a clunk.

Rhythmic ticking -> Inspect the rear brakes for something thing that is slightly out of place or alignment and rubbing.

Clunk when stopping -> Grease the rear drive shaft slip yoke.

muddbug · 02-23-2009, 07:21 AM

it sounds like a trans mount or motor mounts,it only does it every once in a while what about from drive to reverse. if it dont do it then it could be in the trans or case

**CJ7-Tim** · 02-23-2009, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muddbug

it sounds like a trans mount or motor mounts...

Kind of a remote possibility on a stock Cherokee. Driveline lash happens to all Cherokees.

99Greenmachine · 02-23-2009, 07:25 AM

i think u should look into greasing the rear DS, that usually gets rid of clunks.

Also u can shift into N for about 3 seconds and then shift into R and that helps sometimes.

rehberg79 · 02-23-2009, 07:48 AM

U-joints or grease you slip yoke.

Just my

JeepNoma · 02-23-2009, 09:01 AM

i only have 143k miles on the jeep and its always been babied. no accidents and the previous driver was a grandma...so i am kinda thinking the diff is not worn out. im going to go check the engine mounts and u bolts.

If it is my u bolts or drive shaft ill live with it till i get the tom woods ds and sye.

4Doors · 02-23-2009, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 99Greenmachine

i think u should look into greasing the rear DS, that usually gets rid of clunks.

Also u can shift into N for about 3 seconds and then shift into R and that helps sometimes.

My old XJ had the same issue when I first got it. I greased the yoke and paused for a second in neutral before shifting to drive and never had the clunk again (or any other problems) for the couple years that I owned it.

JeepNoma · 02-23-2009, 09:28 AM

ok....heres the update...i went outside this morning and tooks a look at the 3 possible culprits.

Diff.
U bolts
Motor and tranny Mounts

The Differential might be a problem, It definitely has a leak i think around the plug...how do i replace that and how do I know if there is enough fluid in there?

U-Bolts have no give to twist the drive shaft. However this does not eliminate it as a culprit. they could need to be drivin a while to show the give.

Last the motor mounts scared me at first look but relieved me upon second look i think. The top layer of rubber per say has peeled back much like a new tire looses a layer of rubber to the elements when first put on. The mounts may have come like that from the factory that way. The rubber under neath the peeling layer is black and smooth and has no dry rot or deep cracks. they almost look brand new (bought the jeep from a dealership so its possible they replaced em.)

The Transmission mount i i almost know for a fact is brand new. Very squishy, no dry rot and no cracks what so ever.

Lastly if the engine mounts where bad they would allow the engine to move quite a bit when starting and revving.

Starting: minimal shake no more than a 1/4"
Revving: absolutely very little movement... 1/8" maybe

Doors dont shake when opened while engine idling.

I think the vehicle is fine i think it is the u bolts....what do you guys think and what should i do bout the diff.