AX15 Transmission Repair

Hello..

I've got a 98 wrangler, with about 56k miles on it. Yesterday, I did a not so smart thing, (something along the lines of a 2500rpm reverse burnout... after a couple pops) and long-story short, in reverse, the typical "manual transmission reverse-whine" now has more like a grinding pattern to it. Stupid stupid thing, wasn't thinking, and now I'm paying for it.

Anyway.

I've got a friend who's rebuilt a couple transmissions, and I was thinking of just replacing the reverse gear which is what is most-likely ruined?? I looked at prices for seal & bearing kits and I'm finding prices around $200. The reverse gear I saw prices for about $70, and then I don't even know if I need a new reverse idler gear, which was another $60 or so I think..

I'm wondering if it would even be worth it at this point to repair my transmission, or if I should just buy one that a guy is selling locally for around $650 He says its never been in a jeep, and that it was purchased incorrectly, when he actually needed an AX5.

Any thoughts on what I should do? Besides take much better of my poor Jeep?

Reply to
Dave
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Dave did pass the time by typing:

The sound of grinding metal is always a good teacher.

If you shreded the reverse gear it's now in all the bearings and passages in the tranny. Only a complete overhaul will clean things out. However you may have just burned out the clutch pack and that can be replaced. You won't know till you drop the pan and check the fluid.

If it's the same model as your Jeep that would be what I would do. Then sell your old core.

Repeat after me, "More hosepower means bad things happen faster." "Them parts worked better inside." "The only part a mechanic can't fix is the loose nut behind the wheel."

Welcome to the club. :)

Reply to
DougW

Reply to
L.W.( ßill ) Hughes III

Doug, ths AX15 is a manual tranny - no clutch packs, valve bodies, etc.

The only wat to tell what you have is to open it up. With luck, all you did was pop the ring that locks the gear on the shaft. Worst case, you broke either the idler gear or the reverse gear - my bet would be on the reverse gear. I it was quite in 5th, then in all likelihood, you can get by with just the reverse gear. Not that hard a job if you can get it on a clean bench.

Reply to
Will Honea

Yeah, I found out that it's a rebuilt, and that he bought it from another guy, who bought it from Autozone. I read up on google-groups about Autozone tranny's, and decided against buying it..

I'm going to drop the pan tonight, and hopefully see nothing real bad.. I want to change the fluid until next week when my friend and I can take it out and apart, and see what damage was done. Every other gear is fine, it's just reverse that sounds horrible, so I'm hoping for the best.

It's amazing how strategic parking can all but alleviate the need for a reverse gear 75% of the time :) And it helps that my garage is lower than the road, so I can just roll it in backwards in neutral.. Thanks for the time guys..

Reply to
Dave

Reply to
L.W.( ßill ) Hughes III

Nah, this is my daily-driver, Bill... I know the the normal sounds... (if you can call a busted muffler normal :) ) Now reverse has a distinct grind in a recurring pattern. Before, if had any pattern, it would be the jeep's suspension rocking back and forth a little after the initial hitting of the gas pedal.. which is normal, ..

It's definitely yucked up somehow.. I'll post more when I know it.

Thanks!

Reply to
Dave

I'm going to be taking the trans out tonight, and I plan on replacing my clutch-plate (why not) & rear-main seal (has a sliiiight leak) while I've got everything taken apart. .. A question to those who have been here before me ... Is there anything else that is a good idea to replace / inspect while I've got the transmission out?

Reply to
Dave

Input and output shaft bearings.... Nick

Reply to
Nick

With both seals....

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Nick wrote:

Reply to
Mike Romain

Like Nick mentioned, I would do the tranny end bearings and both seals as well I would (did on mine) pull out that stooopid button vent and add a piece of steel gas line in the hole to make a nipple for a real high water vent line that runs up by the battery with the one for the T-case.

I think when you look, you will find oil on the back of the engine from the valve cover imitating that 'rear main leak'.

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Dave wrote:

Reply to
Mike Romain

Slave cylinder if it hasen't been done. Mine leaks like a sieve.

o_o_o_o /| ,[_____], |¯¯¯L --O|||||||O- ()_)¯()_) ¯¯¯ )_)

91 YJ 4.0

-Brian

Reply to
Brian

Thanks for all the feedback..

Do you guys know of a reputable place online to order trans parts from? I hate going to auto-parts chains around here, as I am always questioning the quality of the parts they're selling..

I'm located in Southeast michigan, if anyone knows of a somewhat local place,

Thanks

Reply to
Dave

I would just order online, that way you can pick from the diagrams they have and not risk finding out you got the wrong part in the middle of your rebuild.

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Nick

Reply to
Nick

Reply to
L.W.( ßill ) Hughes III

Well,

Last night I was able with the help of a friend to get the transmission out of the vehicle.. and here is the damage to my reverse gear:

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(If that doesn't work:
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) The oil was clean, and there was no other visible damage to any of the gears. I'm lucky I only bent those teeth, and didn't break them. Now to order a replacement..

-Dave

(oh yes, thanks,

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)

Reply to
Dave

Oh, and what is with the two bolts on the top of the bellhousing that attach to the engine? Mine were a sort of reverse-torx?? What a pain!

Reply to
Dave

When you do your front axle u-joints, you will find 3 more of the suckers on each side.... Lots of folks just put normal bolts back in.

When AMC or 'All Makers Covered' designed things they used something from everyone. You need standard, metric, torx and reverse torx to fix them.... One tool kit I had given to me actually had 'all' of the above included. I think it was a Husky set. The sockets for the reverse torx are really thick walled, way heavier than a standard 12 point socket.

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Dave wrote:

Reply to
Mike Romain

Reply to
L.W.( ßill ) Hughes III

Reply to
Will Honea

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