Is the ax5 that bad?

[70barracuda]

So been putting some serious miles on the new to me cherokee. Its a 2.5 / ax5. Its definitely hard going from that to my comanche and back again. Only about a 600hp difference lol. Anyway, this thing is staying stock, for now atleast, and its going to be on some long road trips coming up. The ax5 shifts pretty good, just whines a bit. Is this thing a ticking time bomb or am I just being paranoid? I also have the dana 35 and It's on 215 tires. Basically just want to know if I should be worried about it. Probably has about 190k on it. 

 

Not interested in an ax15 behind the 2.5 because if it comes to anything needed to be swapped out, its all coming out for an upgrade. 

[pizzaman09]

Are you just driving it unloaded?  If so then you probably do not have anything to worry about.  

[70barracuda]

18 minutes ago, pizzaman09 said:

Are you just driving it unloaded?  If so then you probably do not have anything to worry about.  

Just a weeks worth of luggage and some spare tools. Nothing crazy. 

[eaglescout526]

No it’s not that bad. It’s just a light duty transmission which kinda sucks. So when I destroyed my first AX5, the engine suffered no damage but sheared the input shaft right off the transmission. So if and when it goes, the engine will be fine. 
That being said, maybe it needs a fluid change and some royal purple. I have been running GL5 oils with no issue at all. 

[70barracuda]

1 minute ago, eaglescout526 said:

No it’s not that bad. It’s just a light duty transmission which kinda sucks. So when I destroyed my first AX5, the engine suffered no damage but sheared the input shaft right off the transmission. So if and when it goes, the engine will be fine. 
That being said, maybe it needs a fluid change and some royal purple. I have been running GL5 oils with no issue at all. 

I did a fresh fill of the redline fluid. It shifts really well, just whines. It may be time for a clutch too. 

[eaglescout526]

Oh ok cool. The whining could be from somewhere else but yeah it’s not a bad transmission. I haven’t had any issues with either of mine and think they’re pleasant to drive I think the only one I have issues with is my MJ and it’s 2nd gear. It doesn’t like to down shift at a certain MPH. 

[derf]

The biggest issue is trying to use it behind bigger engines.

 

For normal use behind a normal 2.5, it's fine.