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Author Topic: POS AX5 Trans  (Read 2207 times)

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Guardian7

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POS AX5 Trans
« on: December 19, 2006, 10:06:16 PM »
My AX5 just started banging in 3rd gear while just driving easy on the road. Did some research and found alot of negative articles on the AX5 which is made in Japan. Every article comes to the same conclusion, a light duty trans that wont handle much off-road abuse without breaking. With money tight right now I have to rebuild, I may try running synthetic 75-90W hoping it will last a little longer. The amount of off-roading I've been doing will most likely mean upgrading to an AX15 or NV3550 next year. Jeep should have used the same tranny in the 4banger they use for 6banger! :cry:
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superman1456

  • Guest
POS AX5 Trans
« Reply #1 on: December 19, 2006, 10:48:10 PM »
agreed with that the aw4 is a grate trany. good luck
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might4banger

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POS AX5 Trans
« Reply #2 on: December 20, 2006, 05:03:01 AM »
The replacement parts add up pretty quick... I found it cheaper to find a replacement tranny than to fix the old one... Good Luck.
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tommygp

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POS AX5 Trans
« Reply #3 on: December 20, 2006, 07:30:06 AM »
Quote from: "might4banger"
The replacement parts add up pretty quick... I found it cheaper to find a replacement tranny than to fix the old one... Good Luck.


I've had the same experience.  If you search around you can usually find one that is in good shape for $200 or less.  I've actually had 3 of them, one I paid $50 for and sold for $100, the another I got for free, and the 3rd was my original that was completely trashed by the time I ended up pulling it.

I have an SM465 that will be going in....someday.
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pyfighter2000

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POS AX5 Trans
« Reply #4 on: December 20, 2006, 02:35:32 PM »
What do you mean by banging?
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chrisfranklin

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POS AX5 Trans
« Reply #5 on: December 20, 2006, 06:05:41 PM »
Wise man once said, "be good to your Japanese-made AX5 and it will be good to you."  Course, that wise man was later killed on a hillside when his Jeep rolled on top of him as he crouched to diagnose a busted D35C axle    :lol:
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Guardian7

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POS AX5 Trans
« Reply #6 on: December 20, 2006, 07:10:42 PM »
It sounds like someone is hitting the side of the tranny with a hammer only when in 3rd gear. I am hoping it's just the 3rd gear needle bearing but will know more this weekend when I pull it apart.
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might4banger

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POS AX5 Trans
« Reply #7 on: December 21, 2006, 05:10:51 AM »
^ Same with mine - but it was 5th gear... Most likley or to do it right you will need 3rd gear, bearings and a shaft as a minimum. Once I got to $500 in a replacement parts list, I starting looking for another tranny instead. Hope it's not a DD - cause it took me a while to find one. Try here to start: http://www.car-part.com/ Keep in mind a Cherokee with a 4 banger will also have an AX5...

Other options are going to an AX15 with an adapter kit from Advance...
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Jesse-James

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POS AX5 Trans
« Reply #8 on: December 22, 2006, 12:09:33 AM »
Don't want to go auto? :naughty:

Get an AW4 with the controller that allows manual push button shifting, cool toy.
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Guardian7

  • Guest
POS AX5 Trans
« Reply #9 on: December 22, 2006, 10:49:30 PM »
Okay got AX5 trans apart and teeth were falling out as I opened her up! Looks like 2 teeth just broke off the 3rd gear but, I cant understand what caused this just driving easy on the road! I would expect this to happen when climbing rocks off-road but not just a nice easy drive. The oil looked like brand new, very clean. Guess I need to start checking some clearances. Possibly I stressed it off-road and this actual break was delayed?
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Offline Jeffy

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POS AX5 Trans
« Reply #10 on: December 23, 2006, 12:14:50 AM »
Quote from: "Guardian7"
Okay got AX5 trans apart and teeth were falling out as I opened her up! Looks like 2 teeth just broke off the 3rd gear but, I cant understand what caused this just driving easy on the road! I would expect this to happen when climbing rocks off-road but not just a nice easy drive. The oil looked like brand new, very clean. Guess I need to start checking some clearances. Possibly I stressed it off-road and this actual break was delayed?


It's more then likely (highly probable) that you did break then off-road and they decided to give up the ghost when you got back.  That's a good thing since they did get you home!

People are always saying the AX-5 is weak but you have to consider the engine that's in front of it. For the application it's alright. It could be better but it's not that bad. Remember the TCG Buggy still used an AX-5 with an atlas 4.8 and a Klune...  Jason was still using the TBI 2.5L.
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Guardian7

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POS AX5 Trans
« Reply #11 on: December 23, 2006, 11:12:08 AM »
You are probably right, although I havent beat on it offroad like I did my YJ. In my TJ I now crawl up hills and rocks very slow with 488's and rear locker with no tire spinning or bouncing. In my YJ I would be spinning my 33's and going fast to keep my momentum, bouncing up and down, rocks and dirt flying everywhere! My YJ had an AX5 also and I beat the hell out of it.
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Guardian7

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POS AX5 Trans
« Reply #12 on: December 31, 2006, 12:57:43 AM »
Update, did a quick rebuilt my AX5 which just needs to hold until I have everything for the AX15 conversion. The AX5 tranny is pretty damn small and I can see why bigger tires & lower gearing make this the weak point. I had to replace the 3rd gear $100 & the Cluster gear $250-$300 by itself. I picked up an old AX5 from a 91YJ which had blown synchros and used the gears from it to fix mine. The 91 AX5 had a smaller bearing on the cluster gear compared to my 97 AX5 so they do have some differences between years. here are some pics;
http://www.4bangerjp.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2394
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