AX-5 QUESTION: Output Area

[RGRHASH]

I have an AX-5 and I want to know if the area near the rear output is full of tranny fluid or if it is transfer case fluid that lubes this area...I pulled the transfer case and jacked the jeep up and a ton of Red fluid poured out( same as what looked like was in the NP231)..Looks like there is a seal way up in the transmission around the output shaft...Is this just left over transfer case fluid that is outside the actual case?
heres a pick of the "cavity" under the stick shift that I am talking about:


THANKS!!

[jamespadgett]

there shouldnt be any fluid. if there is you have a bad trans output seal or t-case input seal.

[RGRHASH]

Thats what I figured..Its a rebuilt tranny, so I bet it was the transfer case seal( the black one in the pic I guess?)...It never showed signs of leaking, but it could have been draining into the Transmission output (Cavity)..I know the NP231 rear started leaking a while ago, so the front probably started to (it was 15 years old stock stuff)...I am swapping to a rebuilt D300, Should I worry about that rear seal( the black one) on the AX5 if it was the one leaking?

[RGRHASH]

Paging:
Blacksheep?
Lucasfury?
Geberhard?
What do you guys got?

[The Black Sheep]

Not all the time. While I'm not sure about an AX-15. Pretty much any tranny shop will tell you that this isn't uncommon. My T-18 and Dana 300 combo also had thick gear oil between the adapter housing and the t-case leaking from the transmission side. Reason being that sealed bearings are so expensive its rediclous, and are generally used in aviation (so I'm told by aviation mechs, and machinsts). I asked the exact same question when I was swapping my tranny/t-case. You can look at the output bearing in the tranny and see or not if its possible for oils or fluids to leak through or not. Mine leaked from the back and I had it professionally rebuilt because I didn't have access to a bearing press. I ran mine for years without issue before I sold it and its still running strong from what I hear.

Your t-case should not be leaking from the front at all. Thats not normal, that much I can guarantee you.

Regardless even if it does leak, both the gear oil from the tranny and the Dana 300 won't hurt each other. At some point it will just level off and become a mute issue. Its not like that little "Cavity" is bottomless and leaks, once its full its full.

[RGRHASH]

Ok..I go that last bit...I didnt drain the case whan i pulled it...I just pulled it and fluid went everywhere..I pulled the speedo gear input so I could use it on the D300 and the case appeared to be empty..The fluid is definately the same color(RED/PINK)..When I jacked it up to measure for shocks more poured out...What color is the fluid for the AX-5?..I think this is transfer case fluid that got in there some how...You can see the puddle..

[The Black Sheep]

I think the AX5 uses lighter weight 75/90 gear oil with the GL-5 rating for the brass sycros.

[mud bros.1]

^correct the aisin ax5/15 use gear oil
and the np231 uses atf.

watch the input shaft of the transfercase there is a few models out there that have a short input and dont mate with the seal in the trans.

Ive had to cut c clip retaining groves in the transmision output and center a 1.5 in stub off an old t case to seal it because the input on the t case i was using didn't make it all the way into the trans.

make sure you use some sillycone on the stub or it will leak into the void again

[RGRHASH]

Originally Posted by mud bros.1

^correct the aisin ax5/15 use gear oil
and the np231 uses atf.

watch the input shaft of the transfercase there is a few models out there that have a short input and dont mate with the seal in the trans.

Ive had to cut c clip retaining groves in the transmision output and center a 1.5 in stub off an old t case to seal it because the input on the t case i was using didn't make it all the way into the trans.

make sure you use some sillycone on the stub or it will leak into the void again

So it is in fact transfer case fluid that got in there somehow.. Glad I pulled it when I did then..the D300 uses gear oil too, so It wont hurt anything if this "void" is filled again if I cant get a 100% seal....I bet Ill be alright..

I just didnt want to drive it and burn up the transmission...I know the ax5 is sometype of sealed unit w/ a star plug that is a pain to get to..I must admit I am too lazy to fiddle with the AX5()..
Thanks for everyones help!!

[mud bros.1]

if you leave them unsealed you could loose all the fluid from the trans on a incline and it will end up inside the t case or leaking out of the void.

if you keep them bolth sealed you wont have any problems with the fluid levels.

[The Black Sheep]

Originally Posted by mud bros.1

if you leave them unsealed you could loose all the fluid from the trans on a incline and it will end up inside the t case or leaking out of the void.

if you keep them bolth sealed you wont have any problems with the fluid levels.

The gear oil doesn't flow that fast. And the bearings "leak", its not like the two attached bottles of water experiement you try when you are a kid. In about 2 years time of wheeling steep inclines from rocks, hills etc etcand checking my s every time I changed my oil. I never had to add gear oil to my transmission. What you are describing simply does not happen.

[RGRHASH]

Originally Posted by The Black Sheep

And the bearings "leak", its not like the two attached bottles of water experiement you try when you are a kid. .

Im tracking...The D3oo Is being rebuilt as we speak, so It will be sealed...Im sure the tranny is sealed becuase all I saw was that ATF colored fluid hich I am now about positive cam from the case....
I bet when the tranny was rebuilt like 2 years ago the transfer case seal got messed up on the install( or it the original seal still) and it leaked...Still ran fine for a long time..I just wanted to make sure it was tranny fluid from the AX5...The np 231 is gone to never return...

BLACKSHEEP I like the new AVATAR! I appreciate your help/experience..Thanks...

[mud bros.1]

Originally Posted by The Black Sheep

The gear oil doesn't flow that fast. And the bearings "leak", its not like the two attached bottles of water experiement you try when you are a kid. In about 2 years time of wheeling steep inclines from rocks, hills etc etcand checking my s every time I changed my oil. I never had to add gear oil to my transmission. What you are describing simply does not happen.

your right that shouldn't happen in a normal set up.

but if the input on the transfercase does not mate with the seal on the output of the trans there will be a big hole for fluid to escape the trans and enter the void.

this happend to me when i used a home brew clocking ring it pulled the input out of the trans output just enough so the seal was not contacting the input on the d 300.

[1tuffyj]

im getting ready to put my 231 back in onto my ax5. so i should be using rtv on the black ring around the tcase input and the very outer mating surface of both? this will keep fluids where they belong? also, i used 80-90 oil kinda by accident in the ax5. will this be fine or do i have to switch to 75-90?

[Never Monday]

Originally Posted by 1tuffyj

im getting ready to put my 231 back in onto my ax5. so i should be using rtv on the black ring around the tcase input and the very outer mating surface of both? this will keep fluids where they belong? also, i used 80-90 oil kinda by accident in the ax5. will this be fine or do i have to switch to 75-90?

if it's GL5 gear oil. Drain it and run 40w engine oil

[1tuffyj]

ENGINE oil? really? can anyone confirm this? and what about the rtv?

[mud bros.1]

i will second the engine oil.
rtv is not necessary there should be no fluid between the 2 components.


the engine oil in ax5/15 is a big discussion and you should do more research first as alot of ppl will say yes and alot of others will say no.


red line mt90 is a safe bet as it has all the gl5 property's but contains no corrosive additives

[1tuffyj]

ok. thank u