Identifying Aisin 5- and 6-Speed Transmissions - Transmission Digest

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Identifying Aisin 5- and 6-Speed Transmissions

In speaking about manual transmissions in present-model domestic vehicles, we notice a marked decline in manual transmissions. Aisin World Corp., the mother company of the Aisin group of OEM suppliers, is one of the world’s largest producers of automatic and manual transmissions. Looking around we can see the decline in models available for purchase with a manual transmission among Chrysler, Ford and GM. There are no options on late-model Ford or GM full-size pickups and SUVs for a manual transmission. ZF, which had a long relationship with Ford and still provides us with work to repair past-model five- and six-speed units, is no longer producing units for the blue oval. Muscle cars from Dodge, GM and Ford are optioned with five- and six-speed manual transmissions from Tremec. Besides Tremec, Aisin is now the only player with a skin in the game.

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By Mike Weinberg
Identifying Aisin 5- and 6-Speed Transmissions Up to Standards Subject: Identification and application of five- and six-speed Aisin manual transmissions Units: AR5, AY6 Vehicle Applications: BMC, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Isuzu, Toyota Essential Reading: Rebuilder Author: Mike Weinberg, Rockland Standard Gear, Contributing Editor

Up to Standards

  • Subject: Identification and application of five- and six-speed Aisin manual transmissions
  • Units: AR5, AY6
  • Vehicle Applications: BMC, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Isuzu, Toyota
  • Essential Reading: Rebuilder
  • Author: Mike Weinberg, Rockland Standard Gear, Contributing Editor

In speaking about manual transmissions in present-model domestic vehicles, we notice a marked decline in manual transmissions. Aisin World Corp., the mother company of the Aisin group of OEM suppliers, is one of the world’s largest producers of automatic and manual transmissions.

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Looking around we can see the decline in models available for purchase with a manual transmission among Chrysler, Ford and GM. There are no options on late-model Ford or GM full-size pickups and SUVs for a manual transmission. ZF, which had a long relationship with Ford and still provides us with work to repair past-model five- and six-speed units, is no longer producing units for the blue oval. Muscle cars from Dodge, GM and Ford are optioned with five- and six-speed manual transmissions from Tremec. Besides Tremec, Aisin is now the only player with a skin in the game.

Part of this trend is because of EPA issues with manual transmissions, which shift at closed throttle, as opposed to an automatic, which shifts at open throttle. The manual box puts throttle position totally at the driver’s control, which complicates controlling emissions.

A second reason is the decline of driving skills throughout the younger generations who are buying cars. Members of the “social-media” generation are much more concerned with texting (while they drive), Bluetooth, music downloads and making the vehicle much more like a living room than a transportation mode.

Back in the day, four-barrel carbs, tri-power GTOs, big-blocks, small-blocks and getting off the line were much more important than the creature comforts found in the passenger cabin. We now have cars that can parallel-park themselves to further eliminate any skill and judgment behind the wheel. I know that I am a relic of the past, but I am glad I lived when performance was king and the right car performance-wise attracted pretty girls, like moths to a flame.

The accompanying illustrations provide a pretty thorough breakdown of the Aisin line of late-model five-and six-speeds and the models in which they are used. The first step to successful diagnosis and repair is to know what you are working on. The AR5 series of five-speeds and the AY6 group of six-speeds are evolutions of the very successful AX-5 and AX-15 series of transmissions that are still on the road today.

As you can see from charts these newer units are found in a broad cross section of late-model offerings from many manufacturers. When did we ever think that we would see “foreign cars” domestically produced? Although I enjoy the benefits of the new computer technology and cell phones, I am glad I won’t be around when the bureaucrats finally legislate cars that drive themselves to alleviate traffic and save us from ourselves.

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