My 87 300D is on a roll...
 

Hey, this may be completely normal, but it feels weird to me.

When I put the car in park it rolls about 4 or 5 inches before the tranny catches it. It's not a new occurrence--it has always done it (since I've had it, anyway). Just wondering if it's normal and/or if there's any way to fix it.

Mine too, except that it is a wagon. I have read something about a "parking pawl" or something like that a long time ago. I also have a sound like something is shifting and/or rolling from the shifter area when I turn back and forth. May be related to my front shifter bushing needing to be replaced.

there's a parking catch towards the tail of the transmission iirc, may be out of adjustment or worn out

Slop in the rear end can contribute to the rolling.

Use your parking brake, its what it was intended for.

My wagon does the same thing. Can't comment on if it's normal, but it doesn't "feel" abnormal to me. If I'm parking on a grade I ease it up against the parking pawl using the brakes to prevent the sudden stop at the end of the 4 or 5 inches and the force associated with it. The parking brake is a good idea, it's just not a habit I've developed unless the grade warrants it.

Set the parking brake before shifting out of drive or reverse. This is a good habit to get into. Then there will be no load on the transmission pawl.

SteveM.

It is normal, my '91 did it from new. The park pawl isn't an every 1* assembly, only catches the rotation every few degrees which (depending on where it is when put in park) could be right where you stop, or several inches forward/backward.

The auto-transmission is (was) intended to be used with the parking brake on a hill however.