Drivetrain "Play" ???

Katmandu · **Posted:** Mon Aug 15, 2005 2:30 am

I noticed a strange issue with my 3 week old Liberty.

It will "clunk" in and out of gear on light acceleration/deceleration. I actually noticed this analomy on the initial test drive, but placed it in the back of my mind and kinda ignored it.

Tonight, I went out to check the oil, and leaned on the front of the truck and it went backwards about 3-4 inches! I let go and it rolled forwards about 3-4 inches.

Note that my Liberty is an Automatic and WAS IN PARK during this time on relatively flat pavement.

It will roll back and forth 3-4 inches if you keep leaning back on it. Now any other vehicle when placed in park will only move about 1-2 inches in this situation.

This amount of "PLAY" in the driveline concerns me.

Anyone else experiences this with their Liberty ??

.

FreedomKJ · **Posted:** Mon Aug 15, 2005 8:24 am

4 wheel drive vehicles have a lot of driveline slack due to the number of components involved.

You should really use the parking brake, even with an automatic transmission. The parking pawl is pretty small and the less weight that sits against it the better.

Katmandu · **Posted:** Mon Aug 15, 2005 9:30 am

FreedomKJ wrote:

4 wheel drive vehicles have a lot of driveline slack due to the number of components involved.

I've owned many different 4x4s over the years and never had one with this much "slack" in the driveline.

How much "slack or play" is everyone else seeing in their Libertys ??

Jeepin Al · **Posted:** Mon Aug 15, 2005 10:01 am

My 2002 does the same thing, it rolls quite a ways before it stops. I use the e-brake all the time.

Al

InCommando · **Posted:** Mon Aug 15, 2005 10:19 am

I can sure notice the driveline slack in my 6spd. It is in line with my other 4by's. though.

kevh · **Posted:** Mon Aug 15, 2005 1:50 pm

my 04 will often thunk after backing up and going to "drive"

quite annoying and this is by far the most driveline slack i have experienced out of the 4wd vehicles i have owned (2 jeeps and a toyota)

Katmandu · **Posted:** Tue Aug 16, 2005 2:32 am

kevh wrote:

quite annoying and this is by far the most driveline slack i have experienced out of the 4wd vehicles i have owned

So is this amount of "slack" Normal for a 4x4 Liberty then ??

2003KJ · **Posted:** Tue Aug 16, 2005 10:50 am

Katmandu wrote:

kevh wrote:

quite annoying and this is by far the most driveline slack i have experienced out of the 4wd vehicles i have owned

So is this amount of "slack" Normal for a 4x4 Liberty then ??

Indeed it is. Definately use the e-brake though, its there for a reason. Tranny wasnt ment to be a kickstand for a 2 ton vehicle...lol.

KJTX · **Joined:** Fri Jul 08, 2005 12:56 pm **Posts:** 216

2003KJ wrote:

Tranny wasnt ment to be a kickstand for a 2 ton vehicle...lol.

I have to agree. I've always used the parking brake regardless of what vehicle it was for that reason.

Katmandu · **Posted:** Tue Aug 16, 2005 1:03 pm

2003KJ wrote:

Indeed it is. Definately use the e-brake though, its there for a reason. Tranny wasnt ment to be a kickstand for a 2 ton vehicle...lol.

My concern was the amount of "play" in the driveline itself while the vehicle is running. If you let off the gas and coast and hit the gas again, there is a VERY NOTICEABLE "Clunk" while the driveline takes up the slack.

IMHO, this can't be a good thing for the driveline.

FreedomKJ · **Posted:** Tue Aug 16, 2005 1:33 pm

Katmandu wrote:

2003KJ wrote:

Indeed it is. Definately use the e-brake though, its there for a reason. Tranny wasnt ment to be a kickstand for a 2 ton vehicle...lol.

My concern was the amount of "play" in the driveline itself while the vehicle is running. If you let off the gas and coast and hit the gas again, there is a VERY NOTICEABLE "Clunk" while the driveline takes up the slack.

IMHO, this can't be a good thing for the driveline.

Mine has been doing that for two very hard driven years and has no problems yet. All KJs do it, I wouldn't worry too much.

dirtykj · **Posted:** Tue Aug 16, 2005 2:00 pm

KJTX wrote:

2003KJ wrote:

Tranny wasnt ment to be a kickstand for a 2 ton vehicle...lol.

I have to agree. I've always used the parking brake regardless of what vehicle it was for that reason.

I tried to do that too, but there was this time when I took care of my buddy's Highlander, and ... uh ... well, I couldn't find the parking brake! I asked the owner and he hasn't found it either. Could it be that there isn't one for the Highlander?

KJTX · **Joined:** Fri Jul 08, 2005 12:56 pm **Posts:** 216

I would think there would be one, but as I've not seen a Highlander up close, I can't be for sure. It's possible it was designed that when it is in Park, the brake automatically applies???

Drivetrain "Play" ???

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