AX15 Rebuild Or Not?

**Wildmist** · 05-19-2008, 07:13 PM

Ok so how hard is it to rebuild one of these things? My AX15 is generally ok but I have no 4th gear. Last winter this became a problem in the cold as it wouldn't go from 3rd to 5th like I had it doing in the summer. When I do happen to put it in 4th by mistake it acts like it was just put into neutral. I'm thinking it's just the gear that needs to be replaced. Can someone tell me how hard it would be to fix that compared to me pulling it and taking it to a mechanic. My biggest problem is I don't know how much I'm gonna be in for and not sure it's worth the hassle and high price. Can I do this myself and do you know how long it will take.

And just in case your wondering, yes I'm fairly new to the Jeep world. I've had my 89 YJ for about a year and a half and keep thinking of something else I need to do to it lol.

Aren't we all like that.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanx

**drew2000** · 05-19-2008, 07:55 PM

If you can afford it buying a rebuilt trans is a good way to go. It's one of the most complicated pieces of the car. If you have time to do it on your own (time to do the work, time to wait for parts, ask questions, etc.) go for it. It is a new skill though so if you have time constraints it might not be the best route.

HTH

Drew

kloppk · 05-19-2008, 08:05 PM

Tearing one down and rebuilding it can be done in a day or less.
It does require a gear puller and a press to push some of the components
back on the shafts.
I did mine in December. It had 3rd & 4th blown. It behaved like it was in neutral in either gear.

Actually it's not a "gear" since 4th is a 1:1 ratio. The tranny actually couples the input shaft to the output shaft and no actual gears" are used in 4th.
They are spinning in the tranny but are not used to transmit torque in 4th.

Since you lost only 4th your teardwon will be simpler than mine.
Get you hands on a FSM. It has the step by step details how to tear one down. Invaluable!

merlin7782 · 05-19-2008, 09:38 PM

Get one from mantrans.com.. Got one in oct last year, was $650 shipped i think... Warrenty and what-not

Smash209 · 05-19-2008, 09:54 PM

Midwest sells new ones for $950, or you can get a NV3550 for the same price. Upgrade the bell housing to an external slave whichever way you go... wouldn't want to have to pull it out again.

**Opihi59** · 05-20-2008, 01:57 AM

http://www.billhughes.com/temp/AX15.pdf File this site away somewhere safe, it is fairly comprehensive about the tear down and rebuild process. It is only a bit weak in the verbiage of the interlock pins, but the pictures of these pins is accurate. I used this in Jan when I did a tear down and rebuild with new synchros, bearings and seals. I used a 20T shop press and various bearing splitters--you will need this. I had access to a Military affiliated auto hobby shop which had the equipment. I ordered a master rebuild kit off ebay from Transparts Warehouse (Randy Laskowsky transparts@pacbell.net) Approx $164 with shipping to HI. It was a satisfying job, but I did it as time allowed over about a 10 day period. As you tear this down, take digital photos of EVERYTHING and use many labels and ziplok bags to identify and store parts, it will be worth it........good luck. The "bailout option" would be to buy a reman AX15 from a reputable rebuilder such as mantrans, they are helpful and I have dealt with them in the past on a Toyota transmission.

**Wildmist** · 06-02-2008, 10:26 PM

Awesome info guys, I've gone to mantrans and asked for a quote so we'll see what happens from there. ;p

**4.7stroker** · 06-02-2008, 10:37 PM

I used the above link.
I just gutted the cluster from the case, purchased the bearings and synchros.
Then took the manual and parts to a guy that builds manual trannys.
He cleaned inspected and installed everythig for $100.
I then reinstalled everything back into the case.
All is great and for $100 for someone else to do the important work it was well worth it for me.

Dwayne