pilot bearing help with 2wd to 4wd Ax-15

[MiNi Beast]

But being this is a topic of pilot bushings and AX-15's I have a newbie question that I can't find the direct answer to, to be sure, so I'll ask here..

Is my 2wd AX-15 pilot bushing the same size(etc) as my 4wd Ax-15 pilot bushing? Need to double check on my way up to start working on it.

[MiNi Beast]

Alright can I not swap in a 89 tranny into a 93 then?

I got the measurements for the bushings of both years and they are different so can I not do this swap then?

[Geonovast]

The internal diameter should be the same, since I believe the end of the tranny input shafts are identical.

 

The difference in numbers you're getting would be from the outter diameter, since the 93 would have the HO and the 89 will not. The hole for the bushing in the crank for non-HO and HO 4.0s is different.

[MiNi Beast]

Alright have a 93 H.O. 2wd XJ with a Ax-15, pulled it out to put in a 89 Renix XJ

Ax-15/231 for my 4wd conversion. However, never thought of an issue with the pilot bearing but I have a little one.

 

The top one as shown is for an 89 Renix XJ, the bottom one is for a 93 H.O. XJ, the one I pulled out, however the one on top has the right I.D. but the O.D. is to big.

 

The 89 Renix calls for a

I.D.- .5934in

O.D.- 1.0546in

 

The 93 H.O. calls for a

I.D.- .7500in

O.D.- 1.000in

 

 

So as you can see it is just a @$#% hair to big, so is there any options here or can I just not do this swap?

 

[Geonovast]

I suppose if you really aren't able to find a pilot bearing for it, you could swap in the input shafts. Since you have the numbers, you could probably take them into a parts store and they should be able to find you one. I have a brand new one for a J10... somewhere.

[A-man930]

Oh boy, so the HO going in my truck has a different pilot bearing... so what am I supposed to do when I'm hooking it up to my AX-15 that calls for the .5934id bearing??? Is there a retrofit?

[MiNi Beast]

Oh boy, so the HO going in my truck has a different pilot bearing... so what am I supposed to do when I'm hooking it up to my AX-15 that calls for the .5934id bearing??? Is there a retrofit?

 

I'll let you know if I find out something, or have to get one made. Reshearching all day for this crap, jeep is sitting with the tranny out and it blows. :headpop:

[Wildman]

Roger - Why not give these guy's a call this week, and see if they can find the ID /OD pilot bearing you need???

 

It's Carolina Clutch, http://cc.aspartner.com/

 

All they have are Clutches, and I'm sure they can cross check something that would work for you ;)

[MiNi Beast]

Roger - Why not give these guy's a call this week, and see if they can find the ID /OD pilot bearing you need???

 

It's Carolina Clutch, http://cc.aspartner.com/

 

All they have are Clutches, and I'm sure they can cross check something that would work for you ;)

 

 

I'll do that just thought this was an simple swap deal, but of course not, now my jeep is sitting in my old man garage blocking in his jeep, first I heard of this pilot bearing issue. It was never mention in any topic that I've seen on doing a 2wd to 4wd conversion. But there will be once I'm done, being I'm doing a write up for it.

[Pete M]

So you're swapping an 93 AX-15 into an 89 Jeep with the stock 4.0L? Or vise-versa? If the former, have you tried the CJ pilot bushing yet?

[jtdesigns]

So you're swapping an 93 AX-15 into an 89 Jeep with the stock 4.0L? Or vise-versa? If the former, have you tried the CJ pilot bushing yet?

 

So the BUSHING will work? Not a bearing right?? Do you need to lube it with graphite?

[Pete M]

The bushing will work for swapping a later AX-15 in to an early 4.0L. As far as I know, you don't need to lube it (I didn't when I swapped a 99 AX into my 88 ).

[jtdesigns]

Sounds like a winner beast man.. Thanks Pete... :cheers:

[MiNi Beast]

89 AX to a 93 XJ block

 

I went to parts store and looked at an 73 CJ 304 4sp pilot bushing and it looked as if it was just a metal sleeve. Is that what I need? Or do I put the 89 bearing in the CJ sleeve?

[A-man930]

Yea dude, I've never heard/read anyone talk about this issue before, if this Carolina Clutch place can find you a bearing that'll work then hook me up. I'm mating a '95 XJ 4.0 to my '90 AX-15, so I'm in the same boat as you.

[MiNi Beast]

Yea dude, I've never heard/read anyone talk about this issue before, if this Carolina Clutch place can find you a bearing that'll work then hook me up. I'm mating a '95 XJ 4.0 to my '90 AX-15, so I'm in the same boat as you.

 

For sure but it's looking like I have to have one made up if not, but going to double check some places tomorrow if there open.

 

Guy over on NAXJA did the same swap and had to have one made, so may have to do that. Here is same topic I posted over on NAXJA..

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=955222

[Pete M]

Oh, you're going the other way. Bummer man. To my knowledge, no one has yet located a stock replacement. Take your calipers to the store and poke around and you might be the first. :D Don't forget about length if you find a bearing. A stock bushing could be easily cut down.

[BREEZE1]

just check out my GOLD MEMBER BUILDUP thread. i had this same problem last week. get a cj bushing and open it up to .75 and your good.

[MiNi Beast]

just check out my GOLD MEMBER BUILDUP thread. i had this same problem last week. get a cj bushing and open it up to .75 and your good.

 

 

Reread my post.

 

I have a 89 renix AX-15 going into a 93 H.O. XJ. On the 93 XJ the bushing O.D. is 1.0000in and the 89 Bushing/sleeve O.D. is 1.0546in. So need to take the 89 XJ Spacer sleeve around the bearing down, So shave .0546in off the O.D. of the sleeve in order for it to fit the 93 XJ block. As of 92, Jeep changed the size of pilot bearing.

 

 

The other option my brother suggested was to have a brass sleeve made up to specs and call it a day.

[BREEZE1]

Yeah you could have any machine shop make you one for a few bucks. Just a good ol chunk of oil filled bronze. Sorry you know I can’t read good I’m dyslexic. Ha ha ha! :cheers:

[Pete M]

I think bronze is what you're looking for Mini. Brass is too soft and will likely adhere itself to the engine and transmission.

[MiNi Beast]

Well went to a machine shop today to have the one 89 bearing sleeve turned down to the proper O.D., but we all had reservations on how well it would work, so we just decided to have a bronze bushing made up to the correct specs.

Specs being...

 

O.D.= 1.000in

 

I.D.= .5934in

 

And cost is less then $20.

[BREEZE1]

$20, not too shaby. its just one of those things you got to have.

[MiNi Beast]

Well got the new bronze bushing today had done for me first thing this mourning. Sweetness! I had them make up two, in case someone needed one. $45 out the door, about $20 a piece. Not to bad. So yeah was finally able to finsh up the install. Check it out here... http://www.comancheclub.com/forums/view ... highlight=

 

Pilot Bearings from left to right; 87-91 XJ, 92+ XJ, Allows a 87-91 XJ Manual tranny to be installed in a 92+ XJ.

[BLHTAZ]

Nice...but is that a hard enough metal to last? I though that the bushings needed to be steel.