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?

Dave did pass the time by typing:
> 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.

The sound of grinding metal is always a good teacher.

> 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..

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.

> 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.

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

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

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.

--
-- DougW -- 93 ZJ 4.0 http://members.cox.net/wilsond
HESCO Supercharger - 300W IASCA Stereo - Edelbrock IAS Shocks
Gibson Exhaust - rear DCpower - custom gauge install - Stillen Rotors
Banks Header - and BEER, in the fridge!

Hi Dave,
It's a part of growing up, I once put my parents '56 Ford:
http://www.billhughes.com/56ford.jpg in reverse showing friends how I
could stop the car without brakes, realizing from a previous try it
killed the engine I gave a few more RPMs and lit the tires on fire, had
to quickly drive off the blow them out. Now at car and bike shows it's a
contest.
Anyway if the that transmission is new and not just a rebuilt like
you could do to yours, I'd buy it.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
http://www.billhughes.com/

Dave wrote:
>
> 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?

On Mon, 9 May 2005 21:56:31 UTC "DougW" >
wrote:

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.

> Dave did pass the time by typing:
> > 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.
>
> The sound of grinding metal is always a good teacher.
>
> > 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..
>
> 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.
>
> > 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.
>
> If it's the same model as your Jeep that would be what I would do.
> Then sell your old core.
>
> > Any thoughts on what I should do? Besides take much better of my poor
> > Jeep?
>
> 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.
>


--
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..

Hi Dave,
Remember, you may have forgotten the noise reverse makes normally,
because of it's machined straight gears, where the forward gears are cut
at an angle to be constantly meshed. It's always a good idea to change
fluids, if you've ever been off-road, using 75W-90, GL-5 gear lubricant
or equivalent.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
http://www.billhughes.com/

Dave wrote:
>
> 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..

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!

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?

Input and output shaft bearings....
Nick


--
http://members.cox.net/nnote/
"Dave" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> 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?
>

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:
>
> Input and output shaft bearings....
> Nick
>
> --
> http://members.cox.net/nnote/
> "Dave" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > 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?
> >