6MT Clutch or Gears First

[snowbrdrfreak]

I have a ‘23 JLU Willys sport with a 6MT (pre recall) and 3.45 gears. First gear sucks. I feel like I have to ride it a little to keep it from bucking/lurching. When crawling in heavy traffic or trying to go slow off road (clutch fully released), I experience a herky jerky sensation if I try to give it a little gas and sometimes have to slip the clutch a little or give it more gas to break out of it.

I have no plans to get the recall, but I may attempt to get the clutch replaced with an aftermarket one. Unless the flywheel is the problem, I have no major complaints about the clutch. I want to go to 35s once my tires wear down enough to need replacing but I realize I’ll need to regear first.

My question is this, is it the gears that just aren’t enough to get the jeep moving or is it the light flywheel? Which should I attack first?

I’m particularly interested in hearing from anyone who’s upgraded gears on the stock clutch, or upgraded the clutch on stock gearing, but I’m also curious about people who have done both since that’s ultimately where I’ll end up (assuming an aftermarket clutch is worth it).

Sponsored

 

[JA50N]

It’s neither, it’s the crappy throttle by wire programming. My suggestion is to learn to work around it. That is what I did.

 

[Jeep Wick]

I have a ‘23 JLU Willys sport with a 6MT (pre recall) and 3.45 gears. First gear sucks. I feel like I have to ride it a little to keep it from bucking/lurching. When crawling in heavy traffic or trying to go slow off road (clutch fully released), I experience a herky jerky sensation if I try to give it a little gas and sometimes have to slip the clutch a little or give it more gas to break out of it.

I have no plans to get the recall, but I may attempt to get the clutch replaced with an aftermarket one. Unless the flywheel is the problem, I have no major complaints about the clutch. I want to go to 35s once my tires wear down enough to need replacing but I realize I’ll need to regear first.

My question is this, is it the gears that just aren’t enough to get the jeep moving or is it the light flywheel? Which should I attack first?

I’m particularly interested in hearing from anyone who’s upgraded gears on the stock clutch, or upgraded the clutch on stock gearing, but I’m also curious about people who have done both since that’s ultimately where I’ll end up (assuming an aftermarket clutch is worth it).

The stock flywheel is heavy. You want the street performance ACT clutch kit which will include a better flywheel. Your gearing is slowing you down. You might have more fun doing the gears first, catch the clutch on sale Black Friday or whatever.

 

[azwjowner]

My question is this, is it the gears that just aren’t enough to get the jeep moving or is it the light flywheel? Which should I attack first?

It’s a combo but I would strongly suggest regearing first. There are numerous forum threads on here about the nightmares that people are having with any clutch replacements, stock, aftermarket, etc. My philosophy is to avoid touching the clutch unless I absolutely have to.

I regeared my Sport from 3.45 to 4.56 and it was transformative. Obviously the clutch feel didn’t change but it did wonders for drivability. I kept my 32 inch tires, but the change in gear ratio (4.56/3.45 = 1.32) essentially lets me be 32 percent slower in 1st gear, or alternatively, to have 32 percent more torque at a given speed than I did previously.

If you’re going 35s, I would regear to 4.88. You will have to regear anyway for 35s, so I would do it first and see if you agree that you don't have to touch the clutch then.

 

[Vinman]

Regearing will transform the way the clutch feels and make a massive improvement in driving characteristics

 

[Pig-Pen]

Id do the auto trans swap first, then gears. Ymmv

 

[Jeremynolan94]

I have a 2022 Willys Sport that has an ACT clutch and was recently regeared to 4.56. If I were to do it over I would have regeared first and then seen how the stock clutch felt before installing the ACT. I'm having a very annoying creaking sound from the ACT clutch, and other members have had issues with it making weird sounds and affecting shifting. See my thread here on it. That being said, I was reimbursed by Jeep for it so I can't complain too much unless it ends up getting worse down the line. Regearing is without a doubt the best upgrade I've done to the Jeep. I still can't understand why 3.45s came stock, as my mpg isn't all that different with the 4.56s and it drives so much better.

 

[Zjamison]

Try re-programming the accelerator pedal. Put the jeep into "run" but don't start it. Slowly depress the pedal to the floor and then back out. I've found about 15 seconds from out, to the floor and back works good.

 

[Vinman]

Id do the auto trans swap first, then gears. Ymmv

I didn’t want to be the first guy to suggest that

 

[BuyHold]

I’m particularly interested in hearing from anyone who’s upgraded gears on the stock clutch, or upgraded the clutch on stock gearing, but I’m also curious about people who have done both since that’s ultimately where I’ll end up (assuming an aftermarket clutch is worth it).

Have 6mt and have both regeared to 5.13s and had new clutch (CFII) installed. If you are coming from a Willys sport with 3.45s then I would recommend you regear first. Gears will transform your driving experience for the better.

For 35s: 4.56, 4.88, 5.13 for 35s (4.56 for mostly street/highway, 5.13 for mostly rocks/slow, 4.88 most will say is the balanced spot).

 

[rossneill]

I have a ‘23 JLU Willys sport with a 6MT (pre recall) and 3.45 gears. First gear sucks. I feel like I have to ride it a little to keep it from bucking/lurching. When crawling in heavy traffic or trying to go slow off road (clutch fully released), I experience a herky jerky sensation if I try to give it a little gas and sometimes have to slip the clutch a little or give it more gas to break out of it.

I have no plans to get the recall, but I may attempt to get the clutch replaced with an aftermarket one. Unless the flywheel is the problem, I have no major complaints about the clutch. I want to go to 35s once my tires wear down enough to need replacing but I realize I’ll need to regear first.

My question is this, is it the gears that just aren’t enough to get the jeep moving or is it the light flywheel? Which should I attack first?

I’m particularly interested in hearing from anyone who’s upgraded gears on the stock clutch, or upgraded the clutch on stock gearing, but I’m also curious about people who have done both since that’s ultimately where I’ll end up (assuming an aftermarket clutch is worth it).

Just remember if you take it to a dealer for anything they might reprogram without telling you. I had recall done year ago and I satisfied with new cluch

 

[Tangokilo]

Agree get the free new clutch. I did and it drives better than it ever did. I believe the revised program helps too. I also agree the drive by wire throttle is most of the problem. Zjamison can you explain the pedal reprogramimg in more detail. Like how do you finish the new setting. Thanks!

 

[Tangokilo]

Found the answer: https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/ex...ers-produced-by-january-22-2021/#post-1533883

 

[Tangokilo]

Sorry on page 24...

Sponsored