dev_daddy

Well just wondering how difficult it is to swap from the manual to the auto? My ax is about to take a big crap, and i could rebuild it, but i want an auto... Is it very difficult to swap em? never swapped tranny's before
thanks for any suggestions!

Caish

I think your in for a major headache, the AW4 is an electronically controlled tranny so your going to need the Control Module and the Wiring Harness.
Then add in the input shaft splines are a different count for the AW4/NP231 vs the AX15/NP231.

I wouldn't do it.

dev_daddy

Thanks for the input. That's what I needed to know!

s14unimog

rebuild it. I just rebuilt mine. If you have any questions, I can forward you some pictures and advice. The 5 speed is way better than an auto. Keep on shiftin brother!

TheJerm

plus manuals get better gas mileage and you dont have to worry about overheating it.

Why do you think the ax15 is going out?

btw AW4 and AX15 dont have different spline counts unless you go in between year breaks

s14unimog

It's these two points specifically why I say manuals are "better", not to mention you'll get more power to the ground.

TheJerm

Well yea, auto's suck up like 10-15% of the engine's power because it all has to go thru a fluid coupler.

I'm starting to juggle the idea of swapping in an AX15 or keeping the AW4 and replacing it in my trail toy. I want to lean to the manual cause it will be cheaper since i already have a few but my gf most likely wont want to drive it. But then again autos are easier to drive in rocks and whatnot plus she will probably drive it more than i will

s14unimog

^ I hear that. My wife was convinced she would/could never learn to drive then I bought her Miata in a manual. She hates auto's now and pays more attention driving; so there is something to think about.

99 Purple XJ

The AW4 is electonically controlled??? Isnt it driven by the throttle body??

dev_daddy

well the blocker rings on atleast first-fourth are totally shot, it won't shift into gear, and for another reason. it doesn't like to hold in gear. but could be one of the ***** or springs in the shift linkage is broken or something. is to say, that tranny isn't going out i guess, it just sucks to drive, and shifting is horrible. but pictures would be cool. i've rebuildt an ax-5 before. not quite the fifteen. but i'm confident i can do it. and i say no the the auto, i don't wanna mess with a wiring harness and control module and so forth

s14unimog

well this is what it looks like below the cases. I'm planning to put together a "build" thread on the project but wanted to replace my shifter bushing (the one the shifter actually pivots from) first.

TheJerm

All manual transmissions have similar designs. Much simpler than autos to rebuild

TheJerm

Heres a write-up

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f12/m...build-1032480/

dev_daddy

That's a sweet write up, and thanks for those pictures. But yeah, I've rebuilt one auto, and ill never do that again. I've rebuilt a few manuals and am confident I can do it

s14unimog

That seriously is a good right up. He sorta took a strange direction towards the break down but I guess that works too. It's not that hard to take off the shift rails. Notice that bearing fixture tool he uses. that is ABSOLUTELY necessary for this job.