[Flurry184]

Yesterday i replaced my throw out bearing on my clutch. I went to work and my buddy put it all back together for me. When I was driving home doing about 70mph in 5th, its like it hit the rev limiter but only between 2000 and 3000rpm. Then I had no 5th gear. Any ideas? also will a ax5 out of a tj work? Thanks

[Blazin Den]

my guess would be the snap ring came off that hold 5th gear in place. some can fix it with out taking the trans out, other take the trans out.
check this link out
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f12/ax5-overhaul-write-up-pics-505640/
"No 5th gear. This is the most common. You put it in 5th and nothing happens. It acts as neutral. This is because the c-clip holding the gear on its shaft snaps and the gear slides back, thus unable to engage. If this is your chase, you need a new clip. I had mine made from hi-grade steel to exact measurements. I talked to someone that found a match from a tractor. There are ways. I was unable to find a supplier that carried the ring. Good luck with this."

and if you do need a new trans check craigslist. they have ax5 on their every once in while cheap.

[SteveJcoYJ]

this is what i did

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f12/tj-ax5-np231-conversion-write-up-697384/

i've had two ax5's loose 5th gear on me, and one of them it was 4 months after a complete overhaul. right now what i'm doing is swapping in a 97' TJ ax5, and hopefully it'll hold out better, that link is the conversion.

good luck

[kloppk]

What you have is a VERY common AX-5 problem.
The snap ring that holds the 5th gear in place has fallen off.

The one that's suppose to be here...


Your snapring probably looks like this laying in the bottom of your tranny case...



The allows the 5th gear to slide back like this....


It's just a matter of removing the rear half of the AX-5 case, sliding the gear back into position and installing a new snapring. This can be done with the tranny in the Jeep.

There is also a modified snapring assembly that can be purchased that is suppose to fix it for good and not come off again.
It looks like this....



Yes a TJ AX-5 will fit.

[OneCleanYj]

I've got a question now...

I have 5th gear, but the sound of it is HORRIBLE. It sounds like heavy equipment tracks on pavement or something... I have power sent to the wheels, but like I said I get that noise... 3rd gear did it on my last AX-5 too... Any possibility that I just lost the snap ring, or is there something more wrong with mine? If not, I'd be more than willing to tackle the problem myself. Or just rebuild my old AX-5 and slap it in so I have no downtime...

[p2tharizo]

Hey guys! I just signed up for the forum because my 91 YJ has this same problem. I feel pretty confident tearing it apart, but kloppk-where did you find the parts you have pictured? Thanks for the help.

[Jhowe2k]

Does anyone have a part number to the old clip or the new collar/clip assembly? I have been looking all over the place for this and no one seems to have the numbers.

-Jared

[Canfourjeep]

There are several companies that sell a collar to go around the shaft and includes a new snap ring. When you install the new snap ring you put this over the snap ring and shaft and problem is fixed permanently. The collar is held on with two set screws. It runs around 35 dollars.

[fyrdriver]

Consolidated Transmissions in Sanford Florida sells them

[wickedoffroad]

My question would be if this is a common issue with the ax-5, is it also a common issue for the ax-15 from the cherokees? If not why not swap an ax-15 into the wrangler and not have the issue anymore?

[fyrdriver]

Its common with the Ax-5 not with the 15. But they are not interchangeable, meaning its not an easy or "direct" swap. The ax-5 was behind the 4 cyl and the ax-15 behind the 6 cyl, they have different bellhousing bolt patterns.

[ROSE5365]

Hey all,

I'm new to the forum (and jeeps as well), and registered because of this thread. I have the same problem with fifth, but with one caveat...Horrible noise in fifth and a light ticking/knocking sound in all other gears. 1-4 and R work with no problems, so I'm wondering if a broken snap ring inside the tranny could be the cause of my sound. I'm going to open her up this weekend to inspect the situation, but until then any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[YJake]

My 5th fell off and I can hear it jingling around in the tranny now. It does make a kind of ticking noise while in neutral idling so maybe that's what you're refering to?

I have the snapring collar from consolidated transmissions Sanford, Florida sitting next to me right now on my coffee table. It looks much different than the one pictured but it acomplishes the same thing.

I'll be putting it in soon.

[UltimatE]

Those of you that just "lose" 5th gear are lucky. This is what my AX-5 did when that snap ring failed:

[SunDevilJeeper]

Originally Posted by OneCleanYj

I've got a question now...

I have 5th gear, but the sound of it is HORRIBLE. It sounds like heavy equipment tracks on pavement or something... I have power sent to the wheels, but like I said I get that noise... 3rd gear did it on my last AX-5 too... Any possibility that I just lost the snap ring, or is there something more wrong with mine? If not, I'd be more than willing to tackle the problem myself. Or just rebuild my old AX-5 and slap it in so I have no downtime...

i have the exact same problem, i was on a downhill run heading out to LA and i was near blythe. i must have been doing 65 maybe 70 and it started making a buzzing noise then it turned into knocking noise and now it sounds like the tracks on an ancient D6 dozer.