Noticeable Clunk When Putting Jeep into Drive or Reverse and Occasionally While Driving

[Stan H]

I really think it is normal. My buddy's JT does it and my brother said his did it. Both are 2020 model years. Mine is a 2021. My ex has a 2021 Wrangler and she said, yup....same thing.

It is a combination of things. First, the transmission is cold and the fluid is more viscous and has not fully circulated to all the parts yet.

Secondly, the engine is at higher idle rpm. I found that if I wait for the engine to settle down to normal idle, the clunk is far less pronounced.

This is going in the "I ain't gonna worry about it" file, for me.

It's Normal mine has done it nearly it's entire life. And I got 102,000 miles on mine still locks up in every gear and motors down the road. Also want to add when the Transmissionis hot it dies not do that. It has something to do with it being cold. Normal

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[Mr._Bill]

Both of mine have done it. I always remote start and let it run at least ten minutes. I have found that if I shift to Neutral, then Drive, then Reverse the clunk is not as noticeable. With these transmissions, peak performance is delayed until the fluid has reached its ideal operating temperature.

 

[JTGuy]

In the morning mine does the reverse clunk no matter what I do first. Only does it once and then normal. If this is a normal thing someone please post it.

 

[Janster]

I’m also going to say its normal…..
I’ve owned several trucks over the years and they all do it. It’s just the nature of the driveline…... I call it ‘driveline slop’. Your driveshaft can still ’move’ (rotate) ever so slightly even though the wheels aren’t moving. When you hit the gas….the clunk is the ‘catchup’ to start moving the wheels.

You could crawl underneath the truck and grab the driveshaft and rotate it by hand. You probably won’t have much rotation in the driveshaft.

But, if you jack up the rear wheels off the ground…. Grab the driveshaft by hand and rotate it…. Take notice to the rotations versus the wheel movement.
That’s where your ‘clunk‘ is coming from.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

I’m also going to say its normal…..
I’ve owned several trucks over the years and they all do it. It’s just the nature of the driveline…... I call it ‘driveline slop’. Your driveshaft can still ’move’ (rotate) ever so slightly even though the wheels aren’t moving. When you hit the gas….the clunk is the ‘catchup’ to start moving the wheels.

You could crawl underneath the truck and grab the driveshaft and rotate it by hand. You probably won’t have much rotation in the driveshaft.

But, if you jack up the rear wheels off the ground…. Grab the driveshaft by hand and rotate it…. Take notice to the rotations versus the wheel movement.
That’s where your ‘clunk‘ is coming from.

The only time I’ve noticed a clunk is when a u-joint is going in the rear driveshaft. But maybe my ears just don’t work as well as others.

 

[Janster]

The only time I’ve noticed a clunk is when a u-joint is going in the rear driveshaft. But maybe my ears just don’t work as well as others.

I’m deaf in my left ear…. It’s not about hearing it…. I‘ve always been able to FEEL it.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

I’m deaf in my left ear…. It’s not about hearing it…. I‘ve always been able to FEEL it.

I don't feel or hear anything with my Gladiator or F150.

 

[NC_Overland]

Mine has done it since new. The dealership said it’s normal and refused to fix it. I learned to put it in drive first and then reverse and it doesn’t do it as bad. It only does it when the engine is cold.

 

[JTGuy]

I called a few shops and they say it's normal until it fails,,,,LOL.

 

[Planerdude]

I get a clunk when engaging reverse coming out of the garage. Fresh start while the engine is cold. This has been happening since day one, no known issues.

Your D-Clutch is going bad in the transmission. TSB was issued on 9/10/2024

 

[JTGuy]

How long will it take to fail and what happens when it does. Is it safe to take on a trip. A clunk in the reverse and the drive clutch is going bad?

 

[DanW]

Your D-Clutch is going bad in the transmission. TSB was issued on 9/10/2024

Do you know the TSB number?

 

[Planerdude]

Do you know the TSB number?

 

[JTGuy]

I have no MIL lights and it shifts normal. I could try a battery disconnect and ground to perhaps re start the trans learning but I fear the Tazer will also go nuts.
I backed it in last night so I was able to drive it several miles before testing the reverse clunk,,,, very little clunk.
It looks like anything other than a re flash is a very labor intensive project.

 

[Mr._Bill]

Both of mine have done this. I put 60k miles on the first one with no issues. I always remote start for cab comfort, which warms everything up a little bit. To minimize the noise, I go from Park to Neutral, then to Drive, and then to Reverse. It only does it when cold.

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