AX-5 Transmission rebuild? - 1988 5-speed Wrangler.

Any one rebuilt the Wrangler 5-speed from 1988 era? Is is easy enough to be worth doing myself? Any issues to beware of?

So far I have not located a source for a rebuild manual - suggestions welcome.

I think I have a bad bearing noise, especially while in 3rd and 5th. Only 90,000 original miles.

 

Replace with an AX-15.
The AX-5 is notorious for issues and gears are getting extremely expensive. Once you tear it apart you are committed. The last couple I did took at least two "working" transmissions to put together and still had hard parts to purchase.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I know the AX-5 has a poor history. But... I don't have the time or money to open a new can of worms. (This is my DD.)

Is my understanding correct that the AX-15 requires a bunch of extra parts/effort to swap? Or is it simple/foolproof?

I would do a full clutch package in either case.

 

Look for a good used one and be done. Not worth the hassle.

 

Fwiw... The ax4 in my MJ makes noise... Has for a long while now.

 

Yeah, I doubt I'm going to rebuild it myself, and I may keep driving it a while and see if the noise gets worser faster.

On the other hand, I hope it doesn't destroy a lot of parts.

Just checking my options.

 

I have a spare AX5 that I keep. I think I've now put more sets of tires than transmissions in. It has not been the case until recently. I'm currently running an ax5 that I bought locally on eBay for $50. It makes a lot of noise shifting. But I think I've got my money out of it. At some point I'll have to look for a suitable upgrade

 

So it seemed an AX-15 upgrade with all the parts needed would have been about twice the money, plus no one around here would do it for me (not even the off-road Jeep shop).

So I have just put in a remanufactured AX-5 by myself, and will keep my fingers crossed. Try not to hate me.

I may live to regret it, but his jeep is not used hard off road.

 

Do you live anyplace close to western NY state,I have a AX-5 still in a rotted out YJ if it would help you out.....Jim

 

Thanks for that fine offer, but I hope I will not have any more issues. The new one seems to test-drive okay.