I have a 90 Cherokee with manual transmission (AX15) When I first picked up the Cherokee it was hard to get into gear when sitting still. I would have to shut off the Jeep in order to put it into gear (usually 1st or reverse). Once off, it would slip perfectly fine into gear. Crank the engine over **with clutch depressed** and you could feel the Jeep lurch forward as if the clutch isn't fully disengaged. Also, the original trans would grind 4th. So I decided to go ahead source a good replacement AX15 and swap it out.

I completed the swap last night, bleed my clutch drove it around the block hoping the problems went away and it seemed as if they had... until I drove it to work this morning. Only to have the same problems again! So, as a last ditch effort I replaced the clutch master. bled again and it seems the problem is still there but a lot less obvious (for a lack of a better term). Its sometimes hard to get into gear when rolling to a stop and on one occasion I was locked out of gear yet again, so I had to shut it off and start it in gear...

Also, the problem is still there when in 4lo, not sure if that's related.

I've called a couple trans shops they tell me to keep bleeding, and one offered to bleed it for me (for $50, seems fair as this has become a massive headache).

Previous owner claims to have put a new clutch in it back in December. When I had the trans out, I looked at the fingers on the pressure plate and gave the clutch assembly a good once over, didn't see anything out of the ordinary.

So aside from being told to bleed it some more... a friend of mine recommended that the "thrust bushing" could be bad. I've never heard of it, he says its behind the pilot bearing on the flywheel.

any one else have any insight to my problem? any help would be greatly appreciated!

This is the cherokee forum right?

could be the natorious internal slave cylinder screwing u around . ran inot a problem similar to urs and it was the slave , apparently its a likely accurance

So, i should what? replace it or bleed it more? im not familiar with this notorious slave cylinder problem you speak of.

I just bought a 93 last summer and ran into the same problem. Did your new trans come with a slave cylinder? like the previous post says they are notorious for going bad. Your gonna have to check if your slave is externally mounted (best case) or internally mounted (worst case). I had to replace my slave cylinder which was internally mounted and it ran me about 1500 bucks because of the trans drop. best of luck

They used an internal slave up until I think 93. that said, with mine being a 90 that means its internal.

I am dealing with a similar, but intermittent problem.

One symptom I have is in 1st gear with the clutch depressed, when I take my foot off the brake I can feel the XJ pull forward lightly as if the clutch was partially engaged.

I would suspect the Pilot Bearing if I was to look at a bearing, a friend told me it could be 'dragging but I do not hear any noise.

I'm gonna replace everything, including the Pilot Bearing when I do mine.

I am in the process of trying to choose a replacement clutch manufacturer.

The slave cylinder on these is a ***** to replace and to bleed. If it is not leaking, it is likely that there is air in the system still. It takes two people to bleed it properly. Press in the clutch slowly while loosening the bleeder screw. Close the screw before the clutch pedal bottoms. Then pump the clutch pedal 3 or 4 times and repeat the bleeding. Have the pedal pusher refill the resevoir every 3 cycles.

I hope this helps.

I've got a friend gonna help me try to bleed it.

yep im chasin the same problem on my 88. i put new center force clutch and 3 new hydraulic throw out bearings. i trys to move when i put it in gear, pump it and only slighly better. can a crank walk??

got my issues fixed thanks to a one man bleeder!