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Manual Transmission - Issues shifting into 1st & Reverse (Compilation thread)

Duece McCracken

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I wonder if they changed the piston materials as well.
Just looks like they adapted the tip of the slave to interface with the JL/JT clutch fork pocket. Threw in a Stainless line, and then the JK master to run it.

I was looking at JK slaves when I did my clutch, lol.

Hopefully this does something. I need the Jeep for winter. Ugh
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SadRobot

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Just looks like they adapted the tip of the slave to interface with the JL/JT clutch fork pocket. Threw in a Stainless line, and then the JK master to run it.

I was looking at JK slaves when I did my clutch, lol.

Hopefully this does something. I need the Jeep for winter. Ugh
Will be interested to hear. I'm leaning towards getting the ACT out of there and putting in the CFII. I just have to figure out when to do that. Do I wait for the dealer to finish with it? Do I tow it back to my house and then tow it somewhere else to get the clutch installed?
I don't even know where I'd take it to get the clutch replaced.

Woke up this morning really regretting ever having that ACT put in. Ugh.
 
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Duece McCracken

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Will be interested to hear. I'm leaning towards getting the ACT out of there and putting in the CFII. I just have to figure out when to do that. Do I wait for the dealer to finish with it? Do I tow it back to my house and then tow it somewhere else to get the clutch installed?
I don't even know where I'd take it to get the clutch replaced.

Woke up this morning really regretting ever having that ACT put in. Ugh.

Well, i had 15,000 miles(which is like 1/4 or less expected life of this clutch iirc) of flawless operation on my ACT, and the Promass made rock crawling and daily driving much better.

I have had the "Chewbacca Groan" on initial rub the whole time. Hydraulics havnt made any distinct sounds. Clutch grabs great, no issues there.

Really feels like a crap hydraulic pairing. JL/JT have that super soft twin disc. So they have real light duty hydraulics. Makes sense that they dont hold up to a heavier single mass.

Hopefully the Centerforce hydraulics fix this. If not, then I burn my JT to the ground and just buy a Geo Tracker to wheel.
 

OldGuyNewJeep

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OldGuyNewJeep

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Well, i had 15,000 miles(which is like 1/4 or less expected life of this clutch iirc) of flawless operation on my ACT, and the Promass made rock crawling and daily driving much better.

I have had the "Chewbacca Groan" on initial rub the whole time. Hydraulics havnt made any distinct sounds. Clutch grabs great, no issues there.

Really feels like a crap hydraulic pairing. JL/JT have that super soft twin disc. So they have real light duty hydraulics. Makes sense that they dont hold up to a heavier single mass.

Hopefully the Centerforce hydraulics fix this. If not, then I burn my JT to the ground and just buy a Geo Tracker to wheel.
ACT have commented many times that the CF hydraulics will not work with their clutch.

I’ve got about 12,000 miles (18 months- I don’t drive luck) on my ACT. It’s exhibited the 1st/reverse issue a handful of times. It’s definitely heat related.
 

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Duece McCracken

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ACT have commented many times that the CF hydraulics will not work with their clutch.

I’ve got about 12,000 miles (18 months- I don’t drive luck) on my ACT. It’s exhibited the 1st/reverse issue a handful of times. It’s definitely heat related.
I remember ACT saying something like Centerforce slapping JK hydraulics in was a lazy move. Was pretty sure the internal CF hydraulic release bearing is a no-go.

I can't really see why the external CF Modded JK Hydraulics wont work. Its just actuating the clutch fork. Which is an OEM part that the ACT is compatible with. As long as the travel is about the same, should work.

Heck, I would go as far as to hybrid any combination of the parts.

Additionally, mine has issues dead cold and fully warmed up. So its not specifically a heat issue, its most likely a crappy hydraulics not liking certain conditions.
 
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Well, i had 15,000 miles(which is like 1/4 or less expected life of this clutch iirc) of flawless operation on my ACT, and the Promass made rock crawling and daily driving much better.

I have had the "Chewbacca Groan" on initial rub the whole time. Hydraulics havnt made any distinct sounds. Clutch grabs great, no issues there.

Really feels like a crap hydraulic pairing. JL/JT have that super soft twin disc. So they have real light duty hydraulics. Makes sense that they dont hold up to a heavier single mass.

Hopefully the Centerforce hydraulics fix this. If not, then I burn my JT to the ground and just buy a Geo Tracker to wheel.
Did you get the external hydraulics? From what I'm reading I don't think that's going to make much of a difference.

Ie: See this post on the topic of hydraulics:

Jeep Wrangler JL Manual Transmission - Issues shifting into 1st & Reverse (Compilation thread) Screen Shot 2024-12-28 at 9.05.55 AM


I think we've all come to the same conclusion that the stock hydraulics may not work with the ACT clutch long term. In that sense, sure the ACT clutch may have nothing wrong with it. I, like you, ran it for 10k miles and it worked great. Way better off road than stock. Pedal feel was much better. Then it became too much for the stock hydraulics to handle and now I'm left with a vehicle that won't shift into 1st and reverse.

I was joking with @Gator Overland last night that I could draw a picture of a clutch and tape it inside the bell housing and I also wouldn't have a vehicle that shifted into 1st and reverse. I'm being hyperbolic, of course, but the all I'm saying is whether the clutch works fine on it's own is irrelevant. All the matters is does it work with the vehicle you are driving.

Of everyone that is having issues it's a mix of shop installs, manufacturer installs, installs done at home. The only common denominator found so far is that we all have the same clutch.
 

Duece McCracken

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Did you get the external hydraulics? From what I'm reading I don't think that's going to make much of a difference.

Ie: See this post on the topic of hydraulics:

Screen Shot 2024-12-28 at 9.05.55 AM.jpg


I think we've all come to the same conclusion that the stock hydraulics may not work with the ACT clutch long term. In that sense, sure the ACT clutch may have nothing wrong with it. I, like you, ran it for 10k miles and it worked great. Way better off road than stock. Pedal feel was much better. Then it became too much for the stock hydraulics to handle and now I'm left with a vehicle that won't shift into 1st and reverse.

I was joking with @Gator Overland last night that I could draw a picture of a clutch and tape it inside the bell housing and I also wouldn't have a vehicle that shifted into 1st and reverse. I'm being hyperbolic, of course, but the all I'm saying is whether the clutch works fine on it's own is irrelevant. All the matters is does it work with the vehicle you are driving.

Of everyone that is having issues it's a mix of shop installs, manufacturer installs, installs done at home. The only common denominator found so far is that we all have the same clutch.

Im just getting parts on hand to try and get something to work.

We need answers, so Im doing my part to guinea pig and document.

Really leaning towards just weak hydraulics. Which needs a better external solution.

I've read a bunch of mixed reviews on both CF and ACT clutches, including issues with OEM and CF hydraulics.

Just rolling the dice here, and trying to get us a smoking gun.
 
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Wonder why we haven’t had a single review of South Bend, yet. Maybe because they’re so expensive?

https://www.southbendclutch.com/clutches/13326/
Looks like about the same price as the CFII with internal hydraulics.

https://www.centerforce.com/i-30500...fits-jeep-gladiator-and-wrangler-3-6l.html?q=


I'd pay a good amount of money right now to someone who could install a clutch that's going to work long term and solve my problems. Just seems a clutch system that will do that just doesn't exist for the JL.
 
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SadRobot

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Im just getting parts on hand to try and get something to work.

We need answers, so Im doing my part to guinea pig and document.

Really leaning towards just weak hydraulics. Which needs a better external solution.

I've read a bunch of mixed reviews on both CF and ACT clutches, including issues with OEM and CF hydraulics.

Just rolling the dice here, and trying to get us a smoking gun.
I hope you get some good info for us.
 

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Duece McCracken

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Looks like about the same price as the CFII with internal hydraulics.

https://www.centerforce.com/i-30500...fits-jeep-gladiator-and-wrangler-3-6l.html?q=


I'd pay a good amount of money right now to someone who could install a clutch that's going to work long term and solve my problems. Just seems a clutch system that will do that just doesn't exist for the JL.
Exists yet!!! If we are experiencing hydraulic issues, the twin disk would have reduced effort, may hold up better to the hydraulics.
 

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Did you get the external hydraulics? From what I'm reading I don't think that's going to make much of a difference.

Ie: See this post on the topic of hydraulics:

Screen Shot 2024-12-28 at 9.05.55 AM.jpg


I think we've all come to the same conclusion that the stock hydraulics may not work with the ACT clutch long term. In that sense, sure the ACT clutch may have nothing wrong with it. I, like you, ran it for 10k miles and it worked great. Way better off road than stock. Pedal feel was much better. Then it became too much for the stock hydraulics to handle and now I'm left with a vehicle that won't shift into 1st and reverse.

I was joking with @Gator Overland last night that I could draw a picture of a clutch and tape it inside the bell housing and I also wouldn't have a vehicle that shifted into 1st and reverse. I'm being hyperbolic, of course, but the all I'm saying is whether the clutch works fine on it's own is irrelevant. All the matters is does it work with the vehicle you are driving.

Of everyone that is having issues it's a mix of shop installs, manufacturer installs, installs done at home. The only common denominator found so far is that we all have the same clutch.
If replacing the hydraulics didn't bring things back to the way they were 10k miles ago, then maybe it is the ACT clutch itself.
 

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ACT might be able to chime in but I think the center force has a different throw length with their clutch. I didn’t that setup would work with the ACT.

Well, i had 15,000 miles(which is like 1/4 or less expected life of this clutch iirc) of flawless operation on my ACT, and the Promass made rock crawling and daily driving much better.

I have had the "Chewbacca Groan" on initial rub the whole time. Hydraulics havnt made any distinct sounds. Clutch grabs great, no issues there.

Really feels like a crap hydraulic pairing. JL/JT have that super soft twin disc. So they have real light duty hydraulics. Makes sense that they dont hold up to a heavier single mass.

Hopefully the Centerforce hydraulics fix this. If not, then I burn my JT to the ground and just buy a Geo Tracker to wheel.
 

OldGuyNewJeep

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Really leaning towards just weak hydraulics. Which needs a better external solution.
I’ve been using the same mechanic for over a decade. His shop is first and foremost a transmission shop. He blew two slave cylinders getting my ACT installed (turned out my clutch fork was out of spec and replacing it solved the issue).

Anyway, he told me in no uncertain terms that “these hydraulics are not going to stand up to this heavy clutch - you’re going to regret this.” I rolled my eyes and declared victory when things were still working beautifully after a year.

Go figure, a mechanic with 40 years experience knew more than me, a software developer. 🤣

My 1st/reverse symptoms are extremely rare, right now. 99% of the time everything is perfect. I’m hopeful that by the time things degrade with my setup a solution has been found; i.e. an aftermarket hydraulics kit that works with my ACT.
 

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I'm having the same issues with the factory recall clutch. It has to be something with the hydraulics. My Jeep not going into first started before the clutch install and now again 10,000 miles later after the factory clutch install. So I don't think it's the clutch itself, unless it's something that the act and factory clutch uses.
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