Help! Issues after ACT Clutch install.

[IanNubbit]

So after trying to talk to some other shops it seems most didn’t want to take on trying to fix something someone else started. Got the Jeep back today from the original shop today after ACT sent a new kit minus the flywheel. They bench tested the unit before shipping. Much improved right off the bat. Bite point seems in the right spot now. Engagement is smoother. Although now the pedal is noticeably lighter. Not as light as stock but definitely lighter than the unit I was having issues with. Will let it break in more and report back.

Im pretty sure ACT is proud of their not heavy pedal pressure. Not heavy, but heavy enough for smooth control and it’s consistent unlike the stock set up

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[OrneryBear]

Having learned to drive a stick trans on a Ford 9 N tractor and driven sticks most of my auto life and I get from 100-125k miles out of clutches. These are sitting behind engines from 375 -550 hp.

And now someone has come up with a better idea of a clutch setup that has been in use for over 100 years around the world. If it ain't broke don't fix it!

I learned to drive manual at a very young age on an 8N tractor. My 77yr old father still has the thing and it still runs great. Replaced the clutch in 78 when he bought it.

As for WHY jeep used the flywheel/clutch they did, it's probably because of being owned by europeans. It's a pretty standard flywheel/clutch setup in euro vehicles, and LUK, who makes the clutch, makes a ton of them for other manufacturers like VW. In fact in our old 6spd diesel VW, it would destroy a standard single mass flywheel setup, and you had to run a dual mass.

So my point being, I don't believe it was so much the style of clutch being the problem so much as the jeep engineers (or LUK's) speced things wrong and that's why it sucks.

I'm going to throw this out there; not sure if this would have the affect you are experiencing. It's possible the shop did not tighten the pressure plate bolts evenly and in a criss cross fashion to ensure even load on the release springs. Whenever I've done clutch replacements in the past, I've always hand tightened the bolts, then went in a star fashion and tightened them a bit more with the ratchet - I repeated this a couple times to ensure even preload on it, then tightened them to spec.

As far as steering you away from ACT, if they are a reputable shop then they should know ACT has been in the business a long time and makes quality parts. I installed their clutch kit on an old '79 280ZX that I swapped in an '82 turbo engine. The stock clutch didn't take long to start slipping from the added torque. That ACT clutch clamp well and hard and never gave me grief, even when I tracked it.

This 100% on both points. I think the shop screwed up and also was going to say any shop that hasn't heard of ACT would make me nervous.

 

[Jetpilot03]

Any updates on the fix? I just started having a similar problem with my centerforce. Worked great for about 300 miles, now the pedal engagement is at the floor and won't release 1st gear or reverse once selected. Seems like master cylinder issues on both

 

[fspalt]

Any updates on the fix? I just started having a similar problem with my centerforce. Worked great for about 300 miles, now the pedal engagement is at the floor and won't release 1st gear or reverse once selected. Seems like master cylinder issues on both

As stated above transmission had to come out again and a new kit was swapped in. The flywheel was left in place. 100 miles with the new one so far so good. Did your center force come with their new slave? I tried everything including multiple shops bleeding & replacing both master/slave cylinder as that was the most likely thing when the pedal is low. Unfortunately in my case it was something internal.

 

[Jetpilot03]

As stated above transmission had to come out again and a new kit was swapped in. The flywheel was left in place. 100 miles with the new one so far so good. Did your center force come with their new slave? I tried everything including multiple shops bleeding & replacing both master/slave cylinder as that was the most likely thing when the pedal is low. Unfortunately in my case it was something internal.

I put the new hydraulics in, it worked good for a couple weeks. Now it's back to the floor and stuck in gear. Master is squeaking like it's 20yrs old

 

[notthenewguy]

Reviving and old thread. Just had my ACT clutch installed and my “forward gears” reverse, 1st, 3rd, and 5th get locked out when I am at a stand still. I have to let off the break and let the car creep (clutch fully depressed and selector in 1st or reverse and the car creeps) until the selector fully selects the gear. Shifting requires more force. Shop had it yesterday and bled it all day, today is when the above mentioned issues happened and got worse. I pretty much cannot select any of the above gears if I am at a stand still, especially reverse or first. If I’m in flat ground and try to select any gear (way more apparent in reverse and first) the car creeps forward even though the clutch is fully depressed. Called the shop today and they said to bring it back but they have no idea what it could be.

 

[chevymitchell]

Reviving and old thread. Just had my ACT clutch installed and my “forward gears” reverse, 1st, 3rd, and 5th get locked out when I am at a stand still. I have to let off the break and let the car creep (clutch fully depressed and selector in 1st or reverse and the car creeps) until the selector fully selects the gear. Shifting requires more force. Shop had it yesterday and bled it all day, today is when the above mentioned issues happened and got worse. I pretty much cannot select any of the above gears if I am at a stand still, especially reverse or first. If I’m in flat ground and try to select any gear (way more apparent in reverse and first) the car creeps forward even though the clutch is fully depressed. Called the shop today and they said to bring it back but they have no idea what it could be.

If they took the cable bracket off the transmission, they need to re-align this bracket properly.

 

[notthenewguy]

If they took the cable bracket off the transmission, they need to re-align this bracket properly.

They claim they did not remove the cable bracket from the transmission and that they just slid the transmission back and worked from there.

 

[chevymitchell]

They claim they did not remove the cable bracket from the transmission and that they just slid the transmission back and worked from there.

That's a good thing. It doesn't need to come off. If the gears are still not engaging properly then they'll need to look at the cable routing above the transfer case within the little wire bracket. They shouldn't need to bleed it unless it was having issues before the clutch replacement. The slave cylinder comes off with 2 nuts and gets set aside.

I suppose they'll need to make sure the arm for the throw out is seated properly within the clip but you can't see that without pulling the trans back. It's a weird problem and I've only seen it happen when the bracket for the cables gets removed or not installed/aligned properly.

 

[SadRobot]

Reviving and old thread. Just had my ACT clutch installed and my “forward gears” reverse, 1st, 3rd, and 5th get locked out when I am at a stand still. I have to let off the break and let the car creep (clutch fully depressed and selector in 1st or reverse and the car creeps) until the selector fully selects the gear. Shifting requires more force. Shop had it yesterday and bled it all day, today is when the above mentioned issues happened and got worse. I pretty much cannot select any of the above gears if I am at a stand still, especially reverse or first. If I’m in flat ground and try to select any gear (way more apparent in reverse and first) the car creeps forward even though the clutch is fully depressed. Called the shop today and they said to bring it back but they have no idea what it could be.

I seem to be having a similar issue but just with 1st and reverse. I had the slave cylinder replaced and re-bled. Worked great for 24 hours and now back to having issues going into 1st from a stand still.

I'll be taking it back to the shop on Monday to see if they can figure out what is going on.

 

[SadRobot]

Mine is also making this sound now:

 

[notthenewguy]

I seem to be having a similar issue but just with 1st and reverse. I had the slave cylinder replaced and re-bled. Worked great for 24 hours and now back to having issues going into 1st from a stand still.

I'll be taking it back to the shop on Monday to see if they can figure out what is going on.

my jeep was bad. I can shift it now, but now my car shifts really rough, especially 3rd-4th. I have my old clutch lying around and am seriously considering putting that back in and ditching the ACT. I really don’t know what the problem was that was locking me out of gear. ACT looked into my JL and reinstalled the clutch and they said it was the grease the shop used that was gunking up the splines shaft which wouldn’t allow the clutch to glide easily. They re-bled my hydraulics and looked into my cable alignment as well as said all that was fine. After taking it to them, the jeep did shift better, as I was at least able to get into gear, but since having the ACT installed, the JL shifts pretty horrendous compared to stock. Really tempted to do the recall but I have 35s and well we all know that software update is junk. There was at least one other member on here I believe who also had/has issues with rough shifting after having his ACT installed. Best of luck to you and hope you can figure out what the problem is.

 

[SadRobot]

my jeep was bad. I can shift it now, but now my car shifts really rough, especially 3rd-4th. I have my old clutch lying around and am seriously considering putting that back in and ditching the ACT. I really don’t know what the problem was that was locking me out of gear. ACT looked into my JL and reinstalled the clutch and they said it was the grease the shop used that was gunking up the splines shaft which wouldn’t allow the clutch to glide easily. They re-bled my hydraulics and looked into my cable alignment as well as said all that was fine. After taking it to them, the jeep did shift better, as I was at least able to get into gear, but since having the ACT installed, the JL shifts pretty horrendous compared to stock. Really tempted to do the recall but I have 35s and well we all know that software update is junk. There was at least one other member on here I believe who also had/has issues with rough shifting after having his ACT installed. Best of luck to you and hope you can figure out what the problem is.

How long did it take to get like that? Mine worked great for 13,000 miles and now the problems have started.

 

[Jeep Wick]

These all sound like leaky hydraulics. You are getting air in the line somehow.

 

[SadRobot]

These all sound like leaky hydraulics. You are getting air in the line somehow.

That does make sense as it worked great for 24 hours and now starting to shift like crap again. Where could it be leaking from?

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