AX-15 popping out of first

[CooperZooper]

My transmission pops and slides out of first gear but sometimes stays in gear.
It also has issues going into reverse where it will grind, sometimes first grinds too.

I'm hoping it's just the clutch or potentially the bushing and slider cap at the end of the shift lever.
It's been difficult to shift into 1st and reverse since I got it and first gear has got worse over the last 4 years.
I think it's most likely the synchro gears but when I changed the gear oil it had no trace of metal flake in it.


It stays in first gear sometimes from a standstill but whenever I downshift into first it has no issues.
The reverse gear doesn't pop but sometimes will grind. Usually, a good shimmy in neutral and then into reverse and it works just fine.
Pretty certain it's an AX-15 trans.

Hoping I'd get a few opinions and see if anyone has any wisdom from similar situations.

 

[macleanflood]

You could try and change the fluid to MT-90.

Sounds like it needs rebuilt. I used a transmission shop a couple hours from my house on mine. I reinstalled mine six times (shop kept screwing up) before I bought a new one from Advanced Adapters for just under 2k. Novak sells them too.

Consider a Luk clutch kit at the same time...includes a throwout bearing and pilot bearing.

-Mac

 

[CooperZooper]

You could try and change the fluid to MT-90.

Sounds like it needs rebuilt. I used a transmission shop a couple hours from my house on mine. I reinstalled mine six times (shop kept screwing up) before I bought a new one from Advanced Adapters for just under 2k. Novak sells them too.

Consider a Luk clutch kit at the same time...includes a throwout bearing and pilot bearing.

-Mac

I was looking at a Luk clutch kit, I had heard it was the go-to for TJs.
Definitely will be picking one up.

As for the MT-90, I don't feel as confident it would make a large difference.
But I see no harm in trying it till I get around to working on the main issue.

I've been thinking about getting a Rebuilt transmission or my current Refurbished.
Thought about maybe doing it myself but haven't read up on it enough just yet.

Definitely will look into advanced adapters and Novak for the transmissions.
Thanks for the info.

 

[Chili Pepper Thomas]

Before digging into the transmission, you might check the clearance of the shift shaft at the tub opening. I had this same issue after installing a 1.5" body lift. Simple geometry was my problem: The further the shaft gets from the fulcrum, the wider the diameter of the shifter throw. With the tub hole remaining the same diameter, my shift shaft was hitting the rim of the hole before fully engaging in gear and would it would pop out of gear randomly. The hole cover further restricts the diameter of the hole too. You might try test driving it with the center console and all parts of the shift cover removed to see if the problem persists. Just a thought.

 

[CooperZooper]

Before digging into the transmission, you might check the clearance of the shift shaft at the tub opening. I had this same issue after installing a 1.5" body lift. Simple geometry was my problem: The further the shaft gets from the fulcrum, the wider the diameter of the shifter throw. With the tub hole remaining the same diameter, my shift shaft was hitting the rim of the hole before fully engaging in gear and would it would pop out of gear randomly. The hole cover further restricts the diameter of the hole too. You might try test driving it with the center console and all parts of the shift cover removed to see if the problem persists. Just a thought.

Definitely will check and see but I don't believe I have any sort of lift on my Jeep.
Unless the previous owner did a body lift it looked like I had stock shocks when I replaced them.