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Author Topic: AX5 really that bad?  (Read 2798 times)

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Offline 95 Lowbuck

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AX5 really that bad?
« on: November 22, 2008, 06:51:11 PM »
Ive done the search and it seems people
don't think much of the AX5.
Mine started to grind a little in 2nd and 3rd,
so I replaced the oil with Penzoil Syncromesh
and it improved alot.
But I know this will be only a temp fix and will
have to swap in a new one.
Besides the yellow metal for syncro's, what are the
problems with the AX5 ?
Is it worth rebuilding ?
Can it be updated with steel syncro's ?
I just got my Drive Shafts sorted and dread the thought
of doing it again with an AX15, or NV3550 swap. (Rear shaft will be even shorter)
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Offline Jeffy

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Re: AX5 really that bad?
« Reply #1 on: November 22, 2008, 07:30:42 PM »
No the AX5 isn't as bad as what people say.  Most test to be 4.0L owners...  The AX5 is fine for most people behind the 2.5L/2.4L.  Even with ultra low gears it's not your weak spot.

I would not rebuild one.  Just go buy a low mileage one from a TJ.  Then swap it in.  Rebuilt AX5's don't seem to last that long.  I'm not really sure why, but I know of many people who have installed rebuilds and had trouble soon after.
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Offline FourbangerYJ

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Re: AX5 really that bad?
« Reply #2 on: November 22, 2008, 07:37:07 PM »
They are not the stongest tranny out there. I have heard stories of people having trouble with the syncro's as well as the output shafts breaking.
Mine had trouble shifting into 2nd and 3rd. After I switched to Redline MT the grinding went away. That was years ago. Granted I don't have a ton of miles on mine. About 72K. But I have run super low gearing in the T-cases and have been on 35's and now 37's. So far so good. (knock on wood)
As far as I know syncro's are only avail. in brass or bronze whichever it is. No steel ones.
« Last Edit: November 22, 2008, 07:37:52 PM by FourbangerYJ »
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Offline oldjeep

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Re: AX5 really that bad?
« Reply #3 on: November 22, 2008, 07:46:55 PM »
I've only owned 2, but they were both junk within 120K miles.  These were both in jeeps that were primarily street driven.  So compared to something like an AX15 they are pretty bad.
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Offline FourbangerYJ

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Re: AX5 really that bad?
« Reply #4 on: November 22, 2008, 07:49:43 PM »
Quote from: Jeffy on November 22, 2008, 07:30:42 PM

I would not rebuild one.  Just go buy a low mileage one from a TJ.  Then swap it in.  Rebuilt AX5's don't seem to last that long.  I'm not really sure why, but I know of many people who have installed rebuilds and had trouble soon after.

Interesting. I don't know anyone who has broken one or needed to rebuild one. When mine finally gives up I was thinking of just finding a rebuilt one, or going thru mine and fix what's broke. I hadn't thought of a TJ AX5. Something else to ponder.
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Offline Jeffy

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Re: AX5 really that bad?
« Reply #5 on: November 22, 2008, 07:58:06 PM »
Quote from: FourbangerYJ on November 22, 2008, 07:49:43 PM
Interesting. I don't know anyone who has broken one or needed to rebuild one. When mine finally gives up I was thinking of just finding a rebuilt one, or going thru mine and fix what's broke. I hadn't thought of a TJ AX5. Something else to ponder.

Dan or someone on the list has a rebuilt and it died soon after.  I think he got a second one and it died.  Then he went with a salvage and is happy.  I've heard similar stories over the years.  With the price of a slavage AX5, I don't see it being worth it to rebuild.
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Offline FourbangerYJ

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Re: AX5 really that bad?
« Reply #6 on: November 22, 2008, 08:02:17 PM »
I'm sure I will have to cross that bridge someday but I hope it's not soon!
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Offline FourbangerYJ

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Re: AX5 really that bad?
« Reply #7 on: November 23, 2008, 10:18:08 AM »
So the TJ/YJ AX5's are the same. You are suggesting the TJ one because the chances of it having lower miles?
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Offline Jeffy

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Re: AX5 really that bad?
« Reply #8 on: November 23, 2008, 01:06:03 PM »
Quote from: FourbangerYJ on November 23, 2008, 10:18:08 AM
So the TJ/YJ AX5's are the same. You are suggesting the TJ one because the chances of it having lower miles?

An AX5 is an AX5 is an AX5...  XJ, MJ, YJ, TJ all the same.  The TJ or late model XJ would give you the least amount of miles.
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Offline chardrc

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Re: AX5 really that bad?
« Reply #9 on: November 23, 2008, 02:17:49 PM »
Quote from: oldjeep on November 22, 2008, 07:46:55 PM
I've only owned 2, but they were both junk within 120K miles.  These were both in jeeps that were primarily street driven.  So compared to something like an AX15 they are pretty bad.

the ax5 in my jeep has 153k on it and it still works good.. only off road use has been since i got it.... but when it starts going bad i will upgrade to something beefier anyways... 
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95yjman

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Re: AX5 really that bad?
« Reply #10 on: November 24, 2008, 01:33:30 PM »
Quote from: chardrc on November 23, 2008, 02:17:49 PM
the ax5 in my jeep has 153k on it and it still works good.. only off road use has been since i got it.... but when it starts going bad i will upgrade to something beefier anyways... 

Thats my plan too, just hope it doesn't go out for awhile though. heh
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DodgeMudder

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Re: AX5 really that bad?
« Reply #11 on: November 25, 2008, 11:09:59 AM »
They're junk, I stripped the teeth off of 5th gear on my first transmission, while I was looking for a used one to swap in, I had a tooth break off of reverse.  I then swapped in a low milage ax5 out of a wrecked Jeep my buddy had, it lasted 2 months before it spit a couple teeth off reverse, so I went and had it rebuilt, a month later I took the Jeep off the road to do the SOA and other projects, a month after putting it back into use, I had the teeth spit off reverse again, so thats when I swapped in the NV3550 and haven't looked back.

Remember as people talk about adding low gears hurting the trans, the more gear reduction after the trans the less stress there is on the trans.

Also if anyone needs a good running ax5 I have one for sale.
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Offline TahoeYJ

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Re: AX5 really that bad?
« Reply #12 on: November 26, 2008, 11:08:49 AM »
3rd went out in my last tranny, it would go into gear but made a horrific noise like a shaft or gear was toast. Now in the tranny I swaped in, 5th makes the same noise, and now the rest of the gears are starting to make noise.. I would swap in an AX-15 if I had the dough to do the convsersion, but for now Imma find me another used AX-5, hopefully with low miles...
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larryp

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Re: AX5 really that bad?
« Reply #13 on: November 27, 2008, 07:50:24 PM »
 Mine has 138,000+ miles on it and so far no problems. It's used as a daily driver and a weekend trail and hunting rig.
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DodgeMudder

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Re: AX5 really that bad?
« Reply #14 on: November 30, 2008, 07:41:24 AM »
Quote from: TahoeYJ on November 26, 2008, 11:08:49 AM
3rd went out in my last tranny, it would go into gear but made a horrific noise like a shaft or gear was toast. Now in the tranny I swaped in, 5th makes the same noise, and now the rest of the gears are starting to make noise.. I would swap in an AX-15 if I had the dough to do the convsersion, but for now Imma find me another used AX-5, hopefully with low miles...

I have one in good shape I'll sell cheap, (not sure where your located to know if this will help you or not, but figured I would plug it anyway, I want it gone) it came with the 4 banger I just swapped into my YJ, and I don't need it as I'm running an nv3550.  It's out of my buddies 94 and was really well taken care of.
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