Did they change the manual clutch at all in 2023?

[Albertaktm]

I am looking for input on people that have had Seat time on either a 20-22. AND a 2023. I have read elsewhere that the clutch feel on a 23 is stiffer and engages sooner than any previous years of the JL manual. I am looking for input on stock setup only. Gears tire size Ect. General consensus I have heard is the 23 is a better setup.

Yes? No?, Maybe?

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[Morrepe]

Never driven a 20-22, but I’ll say this: if my 2023 clutch is stiffer than those, they must not be able to feel the clutch at all. Mine’s pretty light and low.

 

[Albertaktm]

Never driven a 20-22, but I’ll say this: if my 2023 clutch is stiffer than those, they must not be able to feel the clutch at all. Mine’s pretty light and low.

I ordered a 23 Willy’s MT last month and heard they are/were pretty light. My JK is definitely lighter than the TJ. I’ve driven manual vehicles for over 47 years and I know they all feel different at first till they don’t. I sat in one at the dealer last year and the throw is 1/4 what my TJ is! Never drove it though. I honestly cannot even fathom having an automatic trans in a Wrangler. It will, be what it is when I get it and I’ll get used to it pretty quick. Just curious. That’s all.

 

[EuroSVT]

Something seems different, my 23' engages smoother than the 20'.

 

[Morrepe]

I ordered a 23 Willy’s MT last month and heard they are/were pretty light. My JK is definitely lighter than the TJ. I’ve driven manual vehicles for over 47 years and I know they all feel different at first till they don’t. I sat in one at the dealer last year and the throw is 1/4 what my TJ is! Never drove it though. I honestly cannot even fathom having an automatic trans in a Wrangler. It will, be what it is when I get it and I’ll get used to it pretty quick. Just curious. That’s all.

I also had TJ and JK manuals and agree with you. JL is lighter than both. It’s a bit of an odd setup. But, as you say, they are all unique. I’ve also had two Porsche MTs and that’s a whole other kettle of fish again, so ….. JL is definitely fun, though. My son drives a TJ MT. When he came home for Christmas on leave I let him drive the JL and he stalled it four times on our little 2-3 mile drive in the city. Takes some getting used to for sure.

 

[Industrialwrench]

It’s a much smoother manual than the TJ. I’ve driven mostly manual vehicles, and I don’t understand everyones issues. Mine shifts great and there’s zero question when it’s grabbing and engaged. Works great. I’ve got a 22 JLR with 4.88s which probably helps a bit.

 

[Cutterone]

It’s a much smoother manual than the TJ. I’ve driven mostly manual vehicles, and I don’t understand everyones issues. Mine shifts great and there’s zero question when it’s grabbing and engaged. Works great. I’ve got a 22 JLR with 4.88s which probably helps a bit.

Yeah huge difference with the 4.88, I'm still on stock size tires (well same diameter 275-65-18 32.1)on my Sahara and even if I stay that size or just go to a true 33 with 275-70-18 (33.3) I'd like to regear to 4.56...but will probably just live with it, its not horrible just less than ideal...

 

[Blazing Saddles]

I haven't had a ride in a 23, but I love my 22 manual. You will get tons of impressions depending on trims/options that people chose. It would probably be best to get some people in here that have experience with the Willys gearing and the MT to give you a better reference. I have 4.88s and my Jeep will climb trees, but that won't be the same with Sport gearing.

 

[Traveller128]

I've driven a '20 manual, and we have a '22 Willys manual, and the '22 has a different clutch feel compared to the '20 I drove. I like the shift action on ours, it's very smooth, but I swapped out the shifter for the B&M which improved shift action a bunch. The overall driving experience improved a LOT switching from the stock gears to 4.10. Keeping in mind we're running 33" tires, which is a good match for the gearing.

Having said that, I didn't like the manual as much until the gear swap, so YMMV. My wife, who is mechanically reclined, really noticed the gear change and the shifter, and she loves it. This from a woman that used to turn the stereo up if her car made a noise. If she notices something different from a parts change, it's a significant change.

Jeep sent me a LONG survey recently in which I told them, if I had to change ONE thing on the ordering process, it would be increasing the gearing options for other trims.

 

[MikeyK]

Just my $0.02

Owned a TJ (2), wife had a JK, she has a 22 JL, and I traded my 22 JT for a 23 JL.

TJ was my favorite, JK was okay, the 22’s and 23 are the same clutch (for me).

 

[Jhawth]

Did they ever fix the clutch discs blowing up with a mechanical solution rather than degrading the motor programmatically? or whatever their software solution for a mechanical problem was? I really wanted to get a MT but after reading about the recalls and then their "fix" I decided to pass for the time being.

 

[Morrepe]

I haven't had a ride in a 23, but I love my 22 manual. You will get tons of impressions depending on trims/options that people chose. It would probably be best to get some people in here that have experience with the Willys gearing and the MT to give you a better reference. I have 4.88s and my Jeep will climb trees, but that won't be the same with Sport gearing.

I have the Willys with the standard gearing (3.45). Had a JKU MT, which started out 3.21 and went to 4.56 when I switched to 34" BFG TA Kos. Also had a 2000 TJ that I bought new. Can't remember gearing (3.73 maybe). TJ was a billy goat with that inline 6. Gearing definitely makes a difference. I like the JL with the MT and the 3.45s. It's just set up a bit different than others I've driven and/or am used to.

 

[zrickety]

So jealous of you factory 4.88 guys.
Was not an option on my 2020.
I'm a big fan of the manual though, my wife hasn't broke it yet LOL
(*knocks on wood*)

 

[OrneryBear]

Our 23 rubicon manual feels great, and better than the 22 I test drove before ordering. I think the current iteration of the manual clutch feels pretty good, there is a lot of feedback in the pedal and it's not too light. Having driven a lot of manual german and japanese cars from 2002+, this has better feel, higher engagement and is stiffer than any of those factory clutches from from the last 2 decades. We traded in my wife's 2012 6spd vw on the jeep and the jeep clutch is leaps and bounds better than the vw clutch, and that was actually from the same oem manufacturer as the jeep's clutch.

 

[LKG]

I am looking for input on people that have had Seat time on either a 20-22. AND a 2023. I have read elsewhere that the clutch feel on a 23 is stiffer and engages sooner than any previous years of the JL manual. I am looking for input on stock setup only. Gears tire size Ect. General consensus I have heard is the 23 is a better setup.

Yes? No?, Maybe?

I hope to have an answer soon. My 22 MT was totaled and I'm waiting on my 23. I'll try to remember to chime back in.

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