i have a japanese transmission - wtf?

extremeYJ · #1 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

ever since i bought my 95 YJ w/ the AX-5 ive have had transmission problems and it kept getting worse, so i finally took it to a transmission specialist and he said that it was a japanese transmission and it was about to die, so i got it rebuilt for only 1,500, but it came with a 1 year warranty so it was ok. when i got it back it was working like it was new until today, went to the store and i couldnt downshift :-x so im taking it back and if it keeps actin up then you see her in next weeks autotrader and i might be drivin a new TJ w/ a 4.0 - even though i dont like TJs, all the parts should work for a couple of years, plus a 4.0 sounds pretty tempting. anybody else had this problem? and why did jeep use and foriegn transmission, anybody know?[addsig]

far_right · #2 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

$[addsig]

USMPK9 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

even though i dont like TJs, all the parts should work for a couple of years, plus a 4.0 sounds pretty tempting. anybody else had this problem? and why did jeep use and foriegn transmission, anybody know?

Ever rode on coils instead of Leaf Springs,,, might suprise you.
The Rubi has coils for a very good reason, more expensive
but ,,, it is very sweet...
:-O 8-)

edited by: USMPK9, Jun 17, 2003 - 06:07 PM[addsig]

PASmokeater · #4 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

Easier to lift too (although mucho dinaro LOL) !!!!!!!!!!!

ROb :-P 8-)

[addsig]

far_right · #5 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Easier to lift too (although mucho dinaro LOL) !!!!!!!!!!!

ROb :-P 8-)

easier????? i have ALWAYS heard leafs were easier than coils....[addsig]

Bounty__Hunter · #6 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

Ahh, the age old deabte. My $.02 is that real jeeps have leaf springs, not car springs :-P

Jeep used the Aisin Warner AX5 and AX15, don't know why, probably cheap. Jeep also incorrectly recommended a GL5 gear oil for these trannies in it's owner's manuals. This gear oil has a high sulfer content, which is very corrosive to the soft brass synchronizers of these trannies. See if your tranny shop knows of the corrosiveness problem. Do a google search for 'synchronizer corrosive' and you'll find a lot on the subject.

If your shop put in GL5 after the rebuild, they were wrong and it's why the tranny's synchros are now shot. But if DC incorrectly recommended that gear oil, who do you go after?

You have to use a GL3 gear oil in these trannies, or a gear oil specially formulated to be easy on the brass synchros like Redline MT90 or Penzoil Synchromesh. Both perform well and improve shifting incredibly.[addsig]

extremeYJ · #7 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

im not sure what kind of tranny oil they used but ill find out when i take it to the shop - ill talk to the guy and i get it figured out. thanks for the input.

and leafs are easier to lift than coils, but not cheaper. my $.02[addsig]

Snitty · #8 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

in the post topic.. it says "wtf?".... that must have meant "what tranny fluid?"

.... and Bounty took care of the answer for you. The transmissions are junk... the 15 can hold up to some stuff... but the maintainence has to be pretty well taken into consideration... those brass parts are not the best... the torque strength of the tranny is not bad... but the life/durability is not the greatest[addsig]

K_K_PSI_GUY · #9 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

So Jeep put foreign trannys in our Jeeps, huh. No wonder I am having problems with my tranny. I am still debating on repairing my tranny or replacing it with a used junkyard tranny. If the problem is because of the manufacturing process, I am going to have to go against everybodies wise advice and get my tranny repaired making sure I get the correct oil in there. I am still driving my Jeep with this problem because $1,000 is a little hard to comeby when you are in college, but I am almost there. oh well, just hurts me to think about all the cool mods I could have used that money on. Oh well, I gotta take care of my Jeep first. Sorry to hear you are in the same boat as I am. -Al[addsig]

Snitty · #10 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

i found an ax15 on ebay for 300... it also came with an axle, 2 driveshafts, calipers, skidplate, and many other parts... not bad... about repairing it... yeah, it can be done... but if you can get a rebuild cheaper.. which you can... i'd say to do it[addsig]

Bounty__Hunter · #11 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

You can buy used a lot cheaper, but it's riskier than a rebuild. I put in a used AX5 with 125K miles and haven't had a single problem, running Redline MT90 and it shifts smoooooth :-D [addsig]

Snitty · #12 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

Click this link... these transmissions are ALWAYS on ebay... better than testing your chances for $1000[addsig]

K_K_PSI_GUY · #13 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

Awesome!Thanks Snitty.This is a lot better than paying $750.00 for a used tranny plus shipping!! Free shipping. pretty good. Thanks again guys![addsig]

judge09 · #14 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

New Venture Gear assembles drive trains here in Syracuse, NY for Chrysler. I went in there for an interview a couple years ago and we got talking about the TJ I had at the time and I was shocked how many foreign parts were used. They keep it american built but assembling alot over here. The parts are foreign though.[addsig]