I've been driving my 2012 Wrangler for about three years now, and it's always had a bit of that rough Jeep character that I actually kind of enjoy, but recently something's changed that's got me a bit concerned. Whenever I shift from park into drive or reverse, there's this noticeable clunk or thud that I can feel through the whole cabin, and it's definitely getting worse week by week. At first I thought maybe it was just the transmission engaging a bit harshly, but I've also noticed that when I accelerate hard from a stop, there's an unusual amount of movement in the gear shifter itself, almost like the whole drivetrain is shifting around under the floor. A buddy of mine who's a bit of a Jeep enthusiast took a quick look and said it feels like the engine mounts are worn out, which apparently is pretty common on these models especially if you do any off-roading which I definitely do on the weekends. He explained that when the mounts go bad, the engine can actually move around quite a bit under torque, which would explain the clunking and the shifter movement. The problem is, I've heard mixed things about aftermarket mounts – some people say the polyurethane ones are great and last forever, while others complain they transmit too much vibration into the cabin and make the ride uncomfortable. I'm leaning towards just getting it done properly with OEM or high-quality replacements, and I've been told that getting Quality Jeep engine mount replacement is really important because cheap ones will just fail again in a year or two with the heat and driving conditions we have here. Has anyone here gone through this and can recommend whether to stick with rubber mounts or try the polyurethane route? Also, how much should I expect to pay for parts and labour on something like this, just so I don't get quoted some ridiculous price from a garage that thinks I don't know anything? Really appreciate any advice you guys can throw my way.
