Aftermarket Transmissions?

[TwelveGaugeSage]

I suspect this is a dead end, but seeing as I am currently having my 4th transmission installed under warranty on my 2021 manual Gladiator, is anyone making an aftermarket transmission or transmission adapter for the V6 gassers?

Alternately, any kits to do a full powertrain swap that includes a manual transmission? I'm trying to find a solution to keeping my truck but not replacing my transmission every fall. Automatic not an option. They are great automatics, but I do not want one. Thank you!

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[GabeBoyTheGreat]

Sorry that I can't help at all, but I am curious, do you know what has been failing on the trannies? I know the clutch is a weak point, but you shouldn't be going through constant tranny replacements.

Edit: you know you gotta use the clutch pedal to shift, right??

 

[TwelveGaugeSage]

They have not shared with me the suspected failure point, but the techs have told me each time it appears there are pieces of synchro broken apart in it. Each time has been second gear popping out and getting progressively worse to the point of not being able to stay in gear.

As for why so many in my case, I have no idea. I have been driving almost exclusively manual cars and motorcycles for 25 years without any other vehicles giving me a problem. I also have a class A CDL. While I am certainly proficient in shifting without the clutch, I generally do not do that except in the case of a broken clutch cable.

 

[GabeBoyTheGreat]

I see. Well personally, I don't think spending $30-40k on swapping out the powertrain is worth the solution you are looking. At least the tranny is under warranty, but if you swap the powertrain, that goes bye-bye.

While not the answer you are looking for, if it happens again, I would maybe take it to a different dealership for a second opinion.

Another thing you may want to check is bleeding the clutch. The procedure for bleeding this clutch is known to be confusing, and personally, my 2018 went to 2 different dealerships, and neither one bled the clutch properly. Granted, this was earlier on in the JL lifecycle, and I would hope the dealers have learned since then, but it wouldn't surprise me if they were not bleeding the clutch properly.

 

[Gregj]

Just a shot in the dark, these transmissions are cable shifted, are the cables adjusted? My Jeep is a manual with almost 70k miles and no transmission problems.
Gregj

 

[RubiSc0tt]

If it's under warranty, and they're playing nice- Keep swapping it on their dime until the Warranty runs out.

Once that happens? Well, that's up to you. There are options, but every one has a cost attached.
I know RubiTrux and AMW4x4 both offer Hemi swaps with manual transmission but it's not advertised on their websites. I've emailed them both and spoke with them about it and they confirmed it- it just costs more and is a bit more complex. I believe they use the Getrag238, which are becoming more rare.

Did you have the clutch or slave cylinder replaced? I'm in the middle of reading those threads for my own purposes as my slave cylinder may not be strong enough for my aftermarket ACT clutch on my manual JLUR.

 

[TwelveGaugeSage]

I see. Well personally, I don't think spending $30-40k on swapping out the powertrain is worth the solution you are looking. At least the tranny is under warranty, but if you swap the powertrain, that goes bye-bye.

While not the answer you are looking for, if it happens again, I would maybe take it to a different dealership for a second opinion.

Another thing you may want to check is bleeding the clutch. The procedure for bleeding this clutch is known to be confusing, and personally, my 2018 went to 2 different dealerships, and neither one bled the clutch properly. Granted, this was earlier on in the JL lifecycle, and I would hope the dealers have learned since then, but it wouldn't surprise me if they were not bleeding the clutch properly.

I am more looking towards the future. Even if they extend my powertrain warranty eventually it all comes to an end.

Everything feels right after I get it back each time, but ~5000 miles later, the popping out of gear starts again. It just had the clutch recall finally performed last week while I had it in for the popping out of gear and a few other warranty things.

Just a shot in the dark, these transmissions are cable shifted, are the cables adjusted? My Jeep is a manual with almost 70k miles and no transmission problems.
Gregj

When I just had it in they adjusted the cables and declared problem solved. I took a tech for a ride a demonstrated how it was not solved. It is now back in their service department getting torn down.

If it's under warranty, and they're playing nice- Keep swapping it on their dime until the Warranty runs out.

Once that happens? Well, that's up to you. There are options, but every one has a cost attached.
I know RubiTrux and AMW4x4 both offer Hemi swaps with manual transmission but it's not advertised on their websites. I've emailed them both and spoke with them about it and they confirmed it- it just costs more and is a bit more complex. I believe they use the Getrag238, which are becoming more rare.

Did you have the clutch or slave cylinder replaced? I'm in the middle of reading those threads for my own purposes as my slave cylinder may not be strong enough for my aftermarket ACT clutch on my manual JLUR.

Yeah, that is the plan. They can keep supplying new transmissions and paying to have then installed if they don't want to offer a better solution. I just don't want to end up paying out of pocket or worse, ending up with an automatic or a Toyota.

As mentioned above, the clutch recall was just performed. I will look into the hemi manual swaps. Probably not financially feasible, but absolutely worth consideration. Thanks for pointing me in that direction!

 

[OminousSkitter]

I know RubiTrux and AMW4x4 both offer Hemi swaps with manual transmission but it's not advertised on their websites.

Just to build on that, here's a thread where @Rubi505 did this swap. Post #8 confirms they put in a Gertag 238 with #17 saying it was about $35K (including the extra $3K for the transmission swap) plus labor. But, this is a hemi conversion not just a transmission swap.

 

[Zandcwhite]

The clutch is a known weak point, could it be possible that it is a clutch issue causing transmission damage? Partially engaging/disengaging causing damage when shifted maybe? Personally I'd say throw an aftermarket clutch in it and see if the transmission holds up any better.

 

[GabeBoyTheGreat]

The clutch is a known weak point, could it be possible that it is a clutch issue causing transmission damage? Partially engaging/disengaging causing damage when shifted maybe? Personally I'd say throw an aftermarket clutch in it and see if the transmission holds up any better.

That's kind of what I was thinking. Seemed like a stretch, but maybe if the clutch isn't fully disengaging then it is putting additional stress on the synchros.

I am looking at upgrading to the Centerforce clutch myself when I feel like I have too much money, but bleeding the clutch might be a good place to start. For me, it was a night/day difference after I bled it. I didn't even realize how bad it was until I bled it.

@TwelveGaugeSage do you tow with the Gladiator? If so, I am wondering if towing could be exacerbating the weak clutch issue, leading to premature failure of the syncrhos.

 

[GATORB8]

The NSG370 was mated to the 3.6 in the 12-18 JK. Although they have about the same torque rating as the AL6, I think they had better reliability.

TCases changed JK-JL, but good excuse to go Atlas.

EDIT: While you are calling them about your new Atlas, Advanced Adapters is probably a great source for information on a trans swap.

 

[TwelveGaugeSage]

That's kind of what I was thinking. Seemed like a stretch, but maybe if the clutch isn't fully disengaging then it is putting additional stress on the synchros.

I am looking at upgrading to the Centerforce clutch myself when I feel like I have too much money, but bleeding the clutch might be a good place to start. For me, it was a night/day difference after I bled it. I didn't even realize how bad it was until I bled it.

@TwelveGaugeSage do you tow with the Gladiator? If so, I am wondering if towing could be exacerbating the weak clutch issue, leading to premature failure of the syncrhos.

The clutch really doesn't feel bad at all to me and I have had good and bad ones through the years. That's not to say it ISN'T the issue, just that everything feels right. Maybe even a bit better post-recall.

As for towing, maybe three times a year I will tow a UHaul motorcycle trailer with a single bike in it. Haul just as rarely. The truck has less than 27,000 miles on it. I don't baby my vehicles, but I don't think I am hard on them either.

The NSG370 was mated to the 3.6 in the 12-18 JK. Although they have about the same torque rating as the AL6, I think they had better reliability.

TCases changed JK-JL, but good excuse to go Atlas.

EDIT: While you are calling them about your new Atlas, Advanced Adapters is probably a great source for information if you are interested in this.

I might just have to consider that. I hated the NSG370 in my briefly owned JK(divorce casualty), but at least they were durable.

 

[alphawolff]

They have not shared with me the suspected failure point, but the techs have told me each time it appears there are pieces of synchro broken apart in it. Each time has been second gear popping out and getting progressively worse to the point of not being able to stay in gear.

As for why so many in my case, I have no idea. I have been driving almost exclusively manual cars and motorcycles for 25 years without any other vehicles giving me a problem. I also have a class A CDL. While I am certainly proficient in shifting without the clutch, I generally do not do that except in the case of a broken clutch cable.

Do you have upsized tires like 37s with the stock 3.73 or 4.10 gearing? I haven't seen that many 6 speed failures, and four on a single vehicle seems egregious.

Also the manual gladiator has a very low tow rating, like 2500lbs or something.

 

[whitechocolate]

a lot of folks had success with a 3rd party kit from centerforce,

https://www.centerforce.com/i-30500...ne-fits-jeep-gladiator-and-wrangler-3-6l.html

 

[TwelveGaugeSage]

Do you have upsized tires like 37s with the stock 3.73 or 4.10 gearing? I haven't seen that many 6 speed failures, and four on a single vehicle seems egregious.

Also the manual gladiator has a very low tow rating, like 2500lbs or something.

Factory 33" M/Ts and it is a Rubicon with 4.10. 4500# tow rating, but I have never even come close to that. It is definitely egregious, but so far both Jeep and my dealership have been good about it. If it is something specific to my vehicle causing it I wish they would figure it out. If it is something specific to my driving, well, I dunno what to change. I'm not riding the clutch, doing power launches, etc. I've always worked hard to develop good habits and not develop bad ones.

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