Auto Box "thump" ????

Hi,
New Member on here and this is my first post,

As title suggests when i selects reverse most of the time there's a loud thump as the gears change, just wondering what it is? im assuming the thump isn't normal. i've got a 1997 3.9V8 Disco 1.

This is my first Landrover!
Cheers
Chris.

Our 230,000 mile Range Rover 3-9 auto does it, as it takes up the slack in the rest of the transmission. I pull the handbrake up to reduce the thump as it changes.

No it is not normal , but I do not know what it is , Sorry Regards Jonathan

Disco_Chris said:

Hi,
New Member on here and this is my first post,

As title suggests when i selects reverse most of the time there's a loud thump as the gears change, just wondering what it is? im assuming the thump isn't normal. i've got a 1997 3.9V8 Disco 1.

This is my first Landrover!
Cheers
Chris.

Click to expand...

Hi Chris, this thump of yours when selecting reverse, is it the same sensation as when you select D?

Do you always put your foot firmly on the footbrake before selecting any gear?

i also have this and have had since buying the disco 12 months ago, biglad this happens to me when am changing direction ie D to Reverse or R to D but not from D to 1,2,3 etc i assumed it was normal, gears engaging etc. i find that the 'thud' is worse when the engines warm as its a quieter thud when im first setting off in the morning. any ideas?

Edit; mines an auto btw

jonny mac said:

i also have this and have had since buying the disco 12 months ago, biglad this happens to me when am changing direction ie D to Reverse or R to D but not from D to 1,2,3 etc i assumed it was normal, gears engaging etc. i find that the 'thud' is worse when the engines warm as its a quieter thud when im first setting off in the morning. any ideas?

Edit; mines an auto btw

Click to expand...

Slack in the transmission .
The wife's RR has this thump.
Its had a diesel fitted and slowing the idle down sorts it out as there's less drag on the transmission.

jonny mac said:

i also have this and have had since buying the disco 12 months ago, biglad this happens to me when am changing direction ie D to Reverse or R to D but not from D to 1,2,3 etc i assumed it was normal, gears engaging etc. i find that the 'thud' is worse when the engines warm as its a quieter thud when im first setting off in the morning. any ideas?

Edit; mines an auto btw

Click to expand...

When changing from D to R if you do it too quickly and without the footbrake firmly pressed, you will get a thump. If you take a little time it is more muted.

Bear in mind that with a Landy there is a lot more transmission than with a normal car.

slack in the transmission? can it cause problems or is it just a harmless thud cos i can live with that. hasnt bothered me so far

jonny mac said:

slack in the transmission? can it cause problems or is it just a harmless thud cos i can live with that. hasnt bothered me so far

Click to expand...

Obviously it depends how loud/strong the thump is, but it is perfectly normal to have a little thump when selecting forward or reverse gears on a Disco auto.

sweet, that'll do for me thx peeps

Both of the LRs I have owned and being autos clunk when moving from drive to reverse, the noise comes from the transfer box.
The RRC stopped doing it when they starting using the chain driving Borge Warner T box.

Slack it maybe if so my vehicles were fitted with it in the factory and still had it when they left the showroom so I've had 24 years of the clunk so don't worry about it "they all do it sir"

And WELCOME to the Forum :welcome2:

theres a few reasons for it obviously worn drive train ,lt230 transfer box isnt more likely than borg warner they both can wear ,autos do wear in clutch baskets ,epycylics etc but some are built with too much endfloat in clutch pack meaning that when piston pressurised it has a lot of movement before clutch is locked this can be adjusted when rebuilding them using different thickness steel plates like shims between friction,done right you can make even old box smooth

Thanks for the welcome, these answers put my mind at rest for the moment!!!

Put my mind at rest a bit too,esp JMs post.

My 98 D1 that I inherited from my father ("Take the sodding thing away before I burn it !!") has always had a noticable time lag then thump as R engages,foot firmly on brake etc.Boxes had fluid changes and filter on tranny,etc,but no better.