Ye Ol' Cherokee

98 cherokee 4.0 4x4, 150k

So i have pretty much mastered the art of putting the jeep into gear while avoiding the BANG/EXPLOSION, but i can't deny the fact that it is there. when shifting into P, R, or D, a big bang occurs (Maybe that's how life started... )

What is this ? supposedly its really common with the AW4, but why? is it bad, or just something it does?

My buddy has a 96 that when he shifts into gear, it feels like a grenade explodes under the jeep, so im glad mine isnt that bad, but what is the deal with this?

Transmission shifts absolutely fine, i have fully serviced it with drain and fills to get to fully fresh fluid, and adjusted the TV cable, and its still the same.

I mean, it doesn't really bother me because i can avoid it, but on the occasions where i forget about it, and it feels like i have a muscular gremlin smashing at my transmission from underneath, ... it makes me wonder, what the F*** is with you, you annoying, annoying transmission.

jon with the jeep

I always shift one at a time from park I hit neutral for a secont then put it in drive. but if I put it from park right into drive it bangs

Ye Ol' Cherokee

thats my EXACT technique. 9/10 times, if i forget, it bangs

jon with the jeep

It takes a second and people riding in my jeep usually ask if something is wrong ha. It's a jeep thing

peep

That's just not right.
669000 km, and it never bangs. Smooth as silk.
Is your trans mount failing / failed, or a motor mount gone? What rpm are you idling at?
The bang described and the gremlin apocalypse just can't be good.
There has to be a cause.

jon with the jeep

Hmmm maybe its not a jeep thing Then idk

jon with the jeep

It could be a trans or motor mount I suppose

peep

My idle is lower than I'd like but the jeep systems control that, idles about 500-600, no banging when going into drive. If the idle were high, say 1000, I would expect a hard reaction going into gear.
Is there any play in the rear driveshaft universals?
I'd suspect trans rotation when put into gear and perhaps the TCase striking the floor pan.
Is there any banging about while driving?
Has the truck always gone into gear this way or is this something that developed?

jon with the jeep

My jeep idles about 700 rpm and I've had it for 8 years... As far as I can remember its always done it but I'm not sure

jon with the jeep

The driveshaft was tight last time I tried to wiggle it. I would lean towards the mounts on mine, they are as old as my jeep. I've been reading up on brown dogs and most people seem to like them

heydockyle

Sounds like motor mount/trans mount to me.

sandaddik2

Are you parking it on a hill with no e brake?
Iif you park it on some sort of incline with a load on the trans while in park as soon as you pull it out of park its going to bang...

Ye Ol' Cherokee

Good thought, Ill have to check that

Ye Ol' Cherokee

No, but i know what your talking about, and its the exact same bang pretty much. Its solely dependent on the speed that i shift the trans

If i do it super fast straight to drive, or do it slowly one at a time, it is smooth as butter, but anything in between, its bangs

OverlandZJ

Worn u-joint, stretched transfer chain, or excessive pinion preload would be my guess. Pinion bearing slop could also contribute.