4lo grinding noise

[JLM]

I have a 2018 jeep rubicon recently bought, its my first 4x4 so today i took it on some gravel roads going straight trying to get a feel for shifting into 4hi and 4lo. 4hi was no problem but when going into 4lo i did what the manual sayed which was going slow rolling speed and putting the transmission in N and shifting to 4lo, i tried about 3 times and heard some horrible grinding noises, am not sure if i was coasting to fast or doing something wrong, what i tried next was being completly stopped and put the transmission in nuetral and then shift into 4LO, now that way it engaged really smooth and no noise at all......

Will those attemps hurt my transfer case? Do i need to have it checked?

Agian its my first 4x4 so this is the first time trying it out.

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[kansasboy91]

With mine it prefers to be stopped when engaging. And I can be rolling to take it out. When you go to take it out be firm with it cause mine is a pain to get out of neutral. It shouldn’t hurt too much if you don’t keep doing it. But try stopping for a second then trying. And if it hasn’t been in 4 low much you have to give it a firm pull from high through neutral into low. But, they are stiff when they are newer.

 

[Terrymo]

Probably fine since it engaged easily while stopped. I usually come to a complete stop, shift transmission to neutral, then pull transfer case into 4 low with some muscle behind it. The more times you shift into 4 low the easier it will get over time. Or hit it with your purse. Sometimes you may have to hold the purse strap with both hands and really lay into it.

 

[Grayhound]

Grinding gears is part of the fun. We’ve all done it! very low likelihood of damage. Good for you for testing things out. Enjoy getting to know your jeep. Before long you’ll be shifting the t case and understanding what and and why as you go!

 

[JLM]

Yea i after the 3rd 4th try i found it better to be completly stopped going to N then with a no or barely any roll go in 4lo, thats when it engaged smoothly, (actually had no problem with the lever) just was not sure if i messed up the transfer case somehow with those attemps where i got the gears binding up or if i needed to somehow get it checked, guess am just being a bit cautious/paranoid since i never used 4x4

 

[Terrymo]

Good for you. My recommendation, if you haven’t already, look for a Jeep club or two near you to wheel with. You’ll meet some cool people and learn a lot.

 

[X35]

I’ve always found it best to be rolling in neutral and then it slides right in

 

[Sand Flea]

My 2018 Sahara liked a slow roll to get it into 4 low, but my 2025 Sahara likes to be popped into neutral, and come to a stop before selecting 4 low. Same drivetrain on both Wranglers.

My advice is to find what yours likes

, and enjoy it.

Photo for attention.

 

[JohnTrotto]

When they say a slow roll, they mean a slooooooooooooooooow roll, like, barely moving.
Even in neutral, you dont want to be coasting at like 10+ mph and go from hi to lo.

Most Jeeps I have owned like to be at a stop in neutral, then let off the brake and shift into lo.
That way you can be BARELY rolling and it lets it find its "groove" and slip into lo.

 

[Reflektr]

Probably fine since it engaged easily while stopped. I usually come to a complete stop, shift transmission to neutral, then pull transfer case into 4 low with some muscle behind it. The more times you shift into 4 low the easier it will get over time. Or hit it with your purse. Sometimes you may have to hold the purse strap with both hands and really lay into it.

Serious question here.

Does it matter if it’s a Coach bag or a Michael Kors?

 

[yokramer]

Serious question here.

Does it matter if it’s a Coach bag or a Michael Kors?

This one works pretty well.

 

[Reflektr]

This one works pretty well.

Oh I like that way better. Even better than the obnoxiously large Stanley mug my wife uses to knock mine out of gear with.

 

[yokramer]

Oh I like that way better. Even better than the obnoxiously large Stanley mug my wife uses to knock mine out of gear with.

I had to break it out when I went to the steel Synergy knuckles, she works pretty good lol

 

[Reflektr]

I had to break it out when I went to the steel Synergy knuckles, she works pretty good lol

I have what I call my little “Thor” hammer for front end and suspension work. It doesn’t say “purse” on it, but it’s still pretty effective.

 

[JLM]

Thank you everyone 🫡🫡 yea i was trying to do what the manual said and what i saw on youtube i was coasting about 3 mph when doing it the first time and was getting that horrible grinding noise haha, but yea i practiced quite a bit more and its definitely almost a complete stop what she likes, smooth like butter

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