CrustyBoy Posted August 9, 2022 Share Posted August 9, 2022 Hey Yall, My clutch pedal lost pressure suddenly the other day. I can still get into all the gears for now, everything still works. It just feels like there's no action until you get the pedal about 2 inches from the floor. It's a BA10/5 2WD truck. I checked the reservoir and it was empty. Filled it up and pumped the pedal about 100 times. Pressure definitely came back for a while but there's clearly a puddle on the ground underneath the truck, and the level in the reservoir dropped quite a bit. The next morning the pressure was gone again. Not exactly sure where it's coming from but I have to assume it's the slave cylinder. I'm going to repeat that fill and pump process a few more times and see if it holds fluid after all the air is bled out. Anyway, I'm thinking I want to buy an AX15 for this truck. Is there anywhere other than Novak that would be a good choice to buy from? I reached out to Novak already and they seem hesitant to sell me a trans because my truck is 2WD (not sure why, I'm tryng to convert to 4WD). I would just need a different drive shaft to be compatible with 23 splines right? I'm located in Ohio so I would need to be able to go pick it up or have it shipped here. Appreciate your insight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Limeyjeeper Posted August 9, 2022 Share Posted August 9, 2022 There are plenty of reman AX15's on fleabay or you can use www.car-part.com to locate a junkyard one near you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJTIM Posted August 9, 2022 Share Posted August 9, 2022 Your parts list is going to include: A 4WD AX15 (preferably with an external slave cylinder). The proper bell housing whether internal or external. If external, the shift (bearing release) fork. If external, the proper slave cylinder. A tcase with 23 spline input shaft from an AX15. The trans cross member. Your current one doesn't fit the AX15. The trans mounting bracket (see above). A shorter drive shaft (or shorten your old one). When you convert to 4WD: A front axle with matching gearing to your rear (which is probably 3.07.) You may want to upgrade the rear to match the front. Find one without a CAD (or just by-pass the CAD). A front drive shaft. Transfer case shift linkage for inside the cab. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrustyBoy Posted August 9, 2022 Author Share Posted August 9, 2022 26 minutes ago, 87MJTIM said: Your parts list is going to include: A 4WD AX15 (preferably with an external slave cylinder). The proper bell housing whether internal or external. If external, the shift (bearing release) fork. If external, the proper slave cylinder. A tcase with 23 spline input shaft from an AX15. The trans cross member. Your current one doesn't fit the AX15. The trans mounting bracket (see above). A shorter drive shaft (or shorten your old one). When you convert to 4WD: A front axle with matching gearing to your rear (which is probably 3.07.) You may want to upgrade the rear to match the front. Find one without a CAD (or just by-pass the CAD). A front drive shaft. Transfer case shift linkage for inside the cab. Thank you so much for that detail. Does the rear drive shaft for my 2WD Peugeot trans have the same spline count as one would for a 4WD AX15? When I reached out to Novak for pricing, the reason they wouldn't price out a 4WD trans for me was because they said the output shaft was different. Basically I'd like to do everything from the top half of your list to get it running, and then put off the bottom part for a little while. So I would run a transfer case disconnected/disengaged until I can get together a front axle and everything else needed to hook that up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJTIM Posted August 9, 2022 Share Posted August 9, 2022 Just now, CrustyBoy said: Thank you so much for that detail. Does the rear drive shaft for my 2WD Peugeot trans have the same spline count as one would for a 4WD AX15? When I reached out to Novak for pricing, the reason they wouldn't price out a 4WD trans for me was because they said the output shaft was different. Basically I'd like to do everything from the top half of your list to get it running, and then put off the bottom part for a little while. So I would run a transfer case disconnected/disengaged until I can get together a front axle and everything else needed to hook that up. For a 4wd set up, the DS goes into the tcase, not the trans. The out put of a 4wd mates to a tcase. You can't run a 4WD without a tcase (that I'm aware of). You can install a tcase without a front axle. Then when you have the front axle installed, you attach the front DS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrustyBoy Posted August 9, 2022 Author Share Posted August 9, 2022 2 minutes ago, 87MJTIM said: For a 4wd set up, the DS goes into the tcase, not the trans. The out put of a 4wd mates to a tcase. You can't run a 4WD without a tcase (that I'm aware of). Right, so does my original drive shaft have the same spline count/size as an NP231 would? Basically wondering if I will be able to shorten and re-use it or need to buy a different one entirely after the Peugeot is changed out for an AX-15/tcase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJTIM Posted August 9, 2022 Share Posted August 9, 2022 Yes, the end of your current DS mates to the tcase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrustyBoy Posted August 10, 2022 Author Share Posted August 10, 2022 Well I see a 1993 2WD AX15 online for a really good price. It's internal slave though: Does anyone know if that would fit up to my 88 4.0? Would the drive shaft length change going from 2WD BA10/5 to AX15? Is it possible to convert it to an external slave setup? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJTIM Posted August 10, 2022 Share Posted August 10, 2022 1 hour ago, CrustyBoy said: Well I see a 1993 2WD AX15 online for a really good price. It's internal slave though: Does anyone know if that would fit up to my 88 4.0? Would the drive shaft length change going from 2WD BA10/5 to AX15? Is it possible to convert it to an external slave setup? Yes, it will bolt up to your 88 4.0. (AS LONG AS IT IS AN AX15. The AX4 and AX5 (2.5 engines) look similar to the 15, but do not bolt to the 4.0. The DS will fit the BA10 and AX15. Yes, you can convert to an external slave setup. You will need a different bell housing, the front bearing retainer cover, the bearing release fork, pivot ball (for the fork), and a release bearing. EDIT: Find out if the cross member comes with it. You will need that, also. It looks like the mount is attached. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howeitsdone Posted August 10, 2022 Share Posted August 10, 2022 That trans is 2wd but sounds like you're wanting 4wd? There are a few write-ups in the DIY section: https://comancheclub.com/forum/10-mj-tech-diy-projects-and-write-ups/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrustyBoy Posted August 10, 2022 Author Share Posted August 10, 2022 11 minutes ago, howeitsdone said: That trans is 2wd but sounds like you're wanting 4wd? There are a few write-ups in the DIY section: https://comancheclub.com/forum/10-mj-tech-diy-projects-and-write-ups/ Thank you for that link. Yes, I do want to convert to 4WD some day. The 2WD trans is just priced to sell and would fix the immediate issue of my BA10/5 starting to fail. I really don't want to waste time messing with the internal slave on the Peugeot or trying to fix the leak it has. It sounds like no matter what you do you'll always have to baby a BA10. So I figure if this guy online wants to sell me his 2WD AX15, I would run it in the mean time while I'm sourcing parts to go 4WD later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJTIM Posted August 10, 2022 Share Posted August 10, 2022 If you want to go to 4WD later, don't get the 2WD. You will only have to get a 4WD later. To change a 2WD to 4WD is more time and $$ then the cost of a 4WD. Search for a 94+ manual XJ that is a 4WD. You will get (almost) everything: external slave cylinder, tcase, cross member, trans mount, slave cyl., front axle, and front DS. You will need to get a new rear DS or have yours cut down. The XJ rear DS will be to short. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howeitsdone Posted August 10, 2022 Share Posted August 10, 2022 FWIW, my BA10 has 300k miles on it and performs like a dream. I wouldn't count it out just because a part needs replacing Definitely track down that leak to make sure it's coming from the slave itself and not from the line or MC. But as mentioned above you'll need the x-member (mount is already attached in photo). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJTIM Posted August 10, 2022 Share Posted August 10, 2022 I have stated previously: My BA10 never left me stranded. However, I had the slave cylinder replaced 5 times. I vowed it would not see a sixth. That's why I swapped to an AX15 with an external slave cylinder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrustyBoy Posted August 10, 2022 Author Share Posted August 10, 2022 The 2WD AX15 is $100. Maybe I'm thinking wrong here but it seems worth it to me even if I have to get an entirely different 4WD AX15 later. Would like to be able to continue driving my truck daily while I find a tcase, wait for Novak/shipping, drive shaft, etc. Plus the Novak estimate for a trans, tcase, and all necessary parts came back around $5000. Should hopefully be picking that 2WD AX15 up today. So given all that I have one more question - Does it make sense to convert this 2WD trans to external slave? I could see it being in the truck for a good while. Might even consider an 8.8" rear end swap before thinking about 4WD again if it all works out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howeitsdone Posted August 10, 2022 Share Posted August 10, 2022 1 hour ago, CrustyBoy said: Does it make sense to convert this 2WD trans to external slave? Just depends. On one hand, you'll have the parts for if you find 4wd AX15 as they'll just swap over. On the other hand, if you later find one with an external then you spent all that money converting the 2wd instead. The bell housing for external slave is not cheap. I'd personally keep it internal until you've got a concrete plan. That would keep cost to a minimum at leas and keep you on the road. But you still need the x-member. DeadJeep sells for $130+ shipping I believe. So now it's a $230+ Transmission Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJTIM Posted August 10, 2022 Share Posted August 10, 2022 Your signature does not show where you are located. Update it to show your state and closest city. That way other CC members may be of help. I was watching a local junkyard for Jeep XJ a while back. At one time there was an 90 with a 4wd, internal slave cyl. trans and a 96 2wd with an external slave cyl. trans. I left the yard that day with one 4wd AX15 with an external slave bell housing and all the inner parts. (Needless to say, it was a long day.) You may want to watch junkyards, also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrustyBoy Posted August 10, 2022 Author Share Posted August 10, 2022 37 minutes ago, 87MJTIM said: Your signature does not show where you are located. Update it to show your state and closest city. That way other CC members may be of help. I was watching a local junkyard for Jeep XJ a while back. At one time there was an 90 with a 4wd, internal slave cyl. trans and a 96 2wd with an external slave cyl. trans. I left the yard that day with one 4wd AX15 with an external slave bell housing and all the inner parts. (Needless to say, it was a long day.) You may want to watch junkyards, also. Good tip, updated my profile with location - I have been hawking car-part.com the past few weeks. Seems like pickings are pretty slim around here. Cherokees come up frequently but they get crushed really fast. It's very annoying. There are lots of places selling "reman core" units for over $2000 around here. For that kind of money I'm definitely going to order from Novak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrustyBoy Posted August 11, 2022 Author Share Posted August 11, 2022 Quick update - I did go and pick up the 2WD trans for $100 last night. The fella was very kind and threw in a crossmember for free as he had a few laying around. I'll document my install and how it runs over in my build thread in the coming weeks. I am still tossing around the idea of getting the external slave parts. When I eventually get a 4WD trans it will probably be from a rebuild shop and not include the bell housing so it probably makes sense to try and do it now. Some pics of it: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJTIM Posted August 11, 2022 Share Posted August 11, 2022 Someone else may look at the cross member and comment. I cannot see the center drop section. I am not sure that is the correct cross member. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrustyBoy Posted August 11, 2022 Author Share Posted August 11, 2022 Interesting, yeah I think you're right. Here's a closer up picture of it: There is no dip in the middle like in your pictures. But the holes and other dimensions seem correct based on pictures I'm seeing around the internet. Is there a difference between a cherokee and a comanche crossmember maybe? Edit: After some more looking around it looks like this crossmember may be for an automatic transmission. Bummer! Guess I'll be buying one after all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJTIM Posted August 11, 2022 Share Posted August 11, 2022 There is no diff between MJ and XJ AX15 cross members. There is a diff between auto and manual trans. I think you have an auto CM. You said the seller had several CMs. Was there one with the drop section? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrustyBoy Posted August 11, 2022 Author Share Posted August 11, 2022 12 minutes ago, 87MJTIM said: There is no diff between MJ and XJ AX15 cross members. There is a diff between auto and manual trans. I think you have an auto CM. You said the seller had several CMs. Was there one with the drop section? I'll ask him to take a look. Never got up close to the pile. Appreciate you confirming that with me. Would've sucked to get it all ready to install and have the wrong crossmember! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshsierra13 Posted September 29, 2022 Share Posted September 29, 2022 Not sure if you've made a decision yet but I bought a reman nv3550 as a replacement for my 04 TJ a while back from reman trans and had a solid experience with them. I've probably put about 18k on it since I made the swap so take that for what you will. They have used and new ax15s https://reman-transmission.com/transmission-codes/?code=AX15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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