Help! Issues after ACT Clutch install.

[Pig-Pen]

this is really far from you but I’ve heard Mission Viejo Transmission has installed a few of the ACT clutches with little to no issues. Been thinking of going there with mine to have Logan take a look at it but I’m really hard pressed to spend more money on this stupid problem, man.

I was recommended to take it to Shift Autowerx in Escondido and when I called and told them what was going on they recommended the recall lol they also told me they’ve not heard of any issues with the recall nor any aftermarket fix for our problem. FWIW. That shop tends to be a a well known, reputable jeep shop. If anyone in/near Socal has a repairable, reliable shop that has experience with these Jeep transmission please let us know.

im pretty sure that's where @SadRobot took it...

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[notthenewguy]

im pretty sure that's where @SadRobot took it...

oh no lol well I take back what I said

 

[SadRobot]

this is really far from you but I’ve heard Mission Viejo Transmission has installed a few of the ACT clutches with little to no issues. Been thinking of going there with mine to have Logan take a look at it but I’m really hard pressed to spend more money on this stupid problem, man.

I was recommended to take it to Shift Autowerx in Escondido and when I called and told them what was going on they recommended the recall lol they also told me they’ve not heard of any issues with the recall nor any aftermarket fix for our problem. FWIW. That shop tends to be a a well known, reputable jeep shop. If anyone in/near Socal has a repairable, reliable shop that has experience with these Jeep transmission please let us know.

Yeah I was the first I think. I had no issues after install so I sent @Jeremynolan94 to them. He had them install the ACT but did have a few issues right after install.

At the moment Logan gave me a quote of $675 to take down the transmission and inspect it. Then they can tell me how much needs to be replaced and the cost of parts & labor. I'd have to buy my own replacement throw out bearing from ACT and they would then do the labor on replacing while they are replacing the synchros.

Currently they are having an issue with their insurance on their loaner cars so I couldn't leave it today even if I wanted to (living 65 miles away from the shop). So I drove it home for now.

 

[SadRobot]

this is really far from you but I’ve heard Mission Viejo Transmission has installed a few of the ACT clutches with little to no issues. Been thinking of going there with mine to have Logan take a look at it but I’m really hard pressed to spend more money on this stupid problem, man.

I was recommended to take it to Shift Autowerx in Escondido and when I called and told them what was going on they recommended the recall lol they also told me they’ve not heard of any issues with the recall nor any aftermarket fix for our problem. FWIW. That shop tends to be a a well known, reputable jeep shop. If anyone in/near Socal has a repairable, reliable shop that has experience with these Jeep transmission please let us know.

Shift Autowerx was on my list as well. I think I could stand on my front porch and throw a rock and hit at least 8 auto shops. Not a single one knows how to deal with a Jeep or a manual transmission. I also had a few tell me to take it to a dealership if I was having clutch issues. MVT was the only shop that would even consider installing a clutch at all.

 

[SadRobot]

Really interesting. The same thing happens with mine. In the morning when it’s cold, it drives great. No grinding or rough shifts and no groaning during takeoff. As the day goes on, shifting gets much worse and the noise gets much worse as well.

Well then that leads away from the shop theory because you had it installed somewhere else. At the moment the common denominator is the ACT.

 

[notthenewguy]

Well then that leads away from the shop theory because you had it installed somewhere else. At the moment the common denominator is the ACT.

Yeah man. Really frustrating to have these temperamental shifting cars. Today’s a good shifting day so I’m just trying to enjoy when it isn’t grinding.

I took it to Orange Coast CDJR about 2 weeks ago and they couldn’t replicate the issue. Told them it’s better in the morning and worse during the day. Tech said that doesn’t make sense and pretty much went on a test drive with me to tell me they weren’t going to look into it further. The service advisor just told me to bring it back when it’s driving bad and if the tech could replicate it they’d look into it under warranty. They seemed to be pretty ok with the fact the JL is modified. But they also said the recall would for sure cause issues that they’d do what they could to resolve, but no promises. Next option is to sell the JL and get into an LJ and a fuel efficient daily for work.

 

[fspalt]

I had to go through two ACT clutches before I got where I am now. First go around the clutch was dragging and would engage right off the floor. ACT sent me a replacement and I had to drop the trans again. 2nd install went ok and the clutch grab point was perfect. I had about 10k trouble free miles. Once ACT got the original clutch back they said:

“We did some quick tests on the returned clutch parts this afternoon. A travel test showed the clutch released at .245". For reference, the replacement I sent tested at .195". We found the cover stamping on the initial clutch is bent, causing the fingers to be uneven which requires more travel (low engagement) and can cause other issues like harsh engagement (judder), etc.
I can't imagine any way this happened after it left ACT, so we will take responsibility for the bent cover. After sending you the replacement clutch, I did some extensive testing and evaluation of our tooling and processes, which led to some improvements to prevent this going forward. I was excited to learn the new tooling and processes actually reduce required travel even further.”

This setup seems to be super sensitive on the specific amount of travel. Unfortunately there is no adjustment with this system so once they’re installed that’s it. Not sure what their QC procedures are but I don’t know if they test the travel required for release on each one.

When they sent me the replacement I can’t recall if they sent another release bearing although it had to come off to do the replacement. The shop could have used their own grease to reinstall at that point. I’m thinking in my case the release bearing is sticking hence the no issue when moving but the problems going into first at rest. Does anyone have any experience with the new internal centered release bearings from Centerforce / McLeod? Seems better quality then the stock part which is part plastic. The CF / McLeod bearings negate the use of the pivot arm which is another part that needs grease. I’m wondering if the creaking sound you guys are getting are from the pivot arm or the release bearing not having enough lube.

 

[fczabala]

I had to go through two ACT clutches before I got where I am now. First go around the clutch was dragging and would engage right off the floor. ACT sent me a replacement and I had to drop the trans again. 2nd install went ok and the clutch grab point was perfect. I had about 10k trouble free miles. Once ACT got the original clutch back they said:

“We did some quick tests on the returned clutch parts this afternoon. A travel test showed the clutch released at .245". For reference, the replacement I sent tested at .195". We found the cover stamping on the initial clutch is bent, causing the fingers to be uneven which requires more travel (low engagement) and can cause other issues like harsh engagement (judder), etc.
I can't imagine any way this happened after it left ACT, so we will take responsibility for the bent cover. After sending you the replacement clutch, I did some extensive testing and evaluation of our tooling and processes, which led to some improvements to prevent this going forward. I was excited to learn the new tooling and processes actually reduce required travel even further.”

This setup seems to be super sensitive on the specific amount of travel. Unfortunately there is no adjustment with this system so once they’re installed that’s it. Not sure what their QC procedures are but I don’t know if they test the travel required for release on each one.

When they sent me the replacement I can’t recall if they sent another release bearing although it had to come off to do the replacement. The shop could have used their own grease to reinstall at that point. I’m thinking in my case the release bearing is sticking hence the no issue when moving but the problems going into first at rest. Does anyone have any experience with the new internal centered release bearings from Centerforce / McLeod? Seems better quality then the stock part which is part plastic. The CF / McLeod bearings negate the use of the pivot arm which is another part that needs grease. I’m wondering if the creaking sound you guys are getting are from the pivot arm or the release bearing not having enough lube.

dates of first purchase and of the replacement?

 

[Actman]

...I’m thinking in my case the release bearing is sticking hence the no issue when moving but the problems going into first at rest. Does anyone have any experience with the new internal centered release bearings from Centerforce / McLeod? Seems better quality then the stock part which is part plastic. The CF / McLeod bearings negate the use of the pivot arm which is another part that needs grease. I’m wondering if the creaking sound you guys are getting are from the pivot arm or the release bearing not having enough lube.

Even if they used the wrong grease on the release bearing sleeve, it wouldn't cause shifting issues. It would affect the pedal feel, but that's about it. If the engagement point is mid-point in the pedal stroke, the pressure plate is doing it's job of lifting from the clutch disc. But the wrong grease, contamination, or no grease on the clutch disc splines would cause shifting issues since it has trouble releasing from the flywheel once the pressure plate lifts from the clutch disc.

The McLeod bearing isn't compatible. The CF is and at least one customer reports it works well with our clutch. I believe it requires the use of a JK master cylinder. or the hydraulic ratios will be way off.

 

[roaniecowpony]

@SadRobot , here's the bleed procedure from my OEM manual.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Here's the shifter adjustment.

 

[SadRobot]

@SadRobot , here's the bleed procedure from my OEM manual.

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately the Jeep is not with me right now. It became undrivable late this afternoon and is sitting at a local auto shop until it can get looked at.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately the Jeep is not with me right now. It became undrivable late this afternoon and is sitting at a local auto shop until it can get looked at.

Well, print those bleed and adjustment pages and take them with you to the shop, so that they have them, if that's the issue.

 

[SadRobot]

Well, print those bleed and adjustment pages and take them with you to the shop, so that they have them, if that's the issue.

Thanks. I'll see what they say. I've been reading up some more on the Jeep Recall page and a few others having the exact same problem with the ACT. You either get lucky or you get S.O.L. I think I'm in the S.O.L. category.

I regret throwing out the stock clutch. Maybe would have had a shop put it back in and gone to get a new clutch for free from the dealer. Oh well. Lesson learned.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Thanks. I'll see what they say. I've been reading up some more on the Jeep Recall page and a few others having the exact same problem with the ACT. You either get lucky or you get S.O.L. I think I'm in the S.O.L. category.

I regret throwing out the stock clutch. Maybe would have had a shop put it back in and gone to get a new clutch for free from the dealer. Oh well. Lesson learned.

The clutch might not be a problem. If the shop pulls the slave off, have them check to see if the throwout bearing fork doesn't have a strange amount of play. If it appears to have an abnormal amount of play, the diaphram (fingers) of the clutch may be sinking, which could then appear that the clutch couldn't be depressed enough to fully release. A phone call to your clutch maker's tech support by your shop mechanic might help him diagnose it. Get the clutch maker's tech support number handy.

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