Just bought a 1999 jeep cherokee XJ with a 4.5 rough country lift. It has the 5 speed and the factory limited slip. I just wanted to say how FREAKIN AWESOME a 5spd cherokee is....

 

Trade me for my auto! I couldn't find a 5 speed anywhere but I had to have an xj so I settled for an auto

 

haha I know I was looking all over and this fell into my lap. My lifted 89 cherokee limited has the auto AW4 and that does great too, tho. 4-Lo is amazing with a 5 spd... and I drove to college yesterday and got 23 mpg highway lol.

 

I can completely agree to that....Really enjoy driving my 5-speed 98 over my 99 auto. There completely different cherokees just with the swap of the transmission.

 

Yeah I am still getting used to the off road aspect with a clutch haha. I am worried I'm gonna toast it. I ride dirtbikes but its a totally different feel offroad on a bike than the jeep. But 4-lo is super creeperish and will crawl over everything.

 

Yeah I have to get used to using the clutch off-road myself, Im guessing its just gonna take getting used to after awhile. I wouldnt worry to much about burning it up unless your crawling and have to work the clutch more And I have to say even though it has 3.07's Its faster then my 99 with 3.55's.

 

Yeah Im undecided about 3.07's. I can run @ 85mph plus on the highway but on my trails first is a little tall yet. But 4-Lo is fun and still low enough

 

Yeah man, I waited 8 months before I found my 97 five speed. They are quite rare, and much more dependable than the auto's. sorry guys, its true.

AND... you can put exhaust on it without hearing those gawd awful rolling shifts..

 

I passed up a 97 4.0 AX15 2wd for $700 when i was looking for my gf's jeep, she threw a hissy fit about driving a 5sp 700 miles home with limited experience. I'm kicking myself for not buying it b/c it matches my 95 5sp but nicer

 

yeah... you missed out on that one. Hell that AX-15 transmission alone is worth almost that....

 

meh, depends on where you live. The most ive paid is $450 and the cheapest was free or $30 that they owed me. I have a few good 2wd ones and a few junk 4x4 ones that I've been procrastinating on putting together to sell. Being in college on a tight budget for beer, women and jeep parts really sucks

 

haha, I hear that. Wanna give me one of those on the cheap? I've got some seals for the 2wd adapter housing if you need some.

 

Agreed. It took me 2 years to find mine. (no lie) Now I have to go out to PA for parts because there are no 5-Speed XJ's in my county or any of the ones near by, So worth it though.

 

yeah, you're a bit alone with a 5-speed. I've been trying to work my way into Crown. I'm trying to replace my shifter bushing and Jeep is no longer carrying parts.

 

Yea Chrysler doesn't carry parts for AX15's anymore but there are companies that still do just takes some searching. I've been collecting parts for some time in hopes of getting around to rebuilding some and putting them back into use.