Twinkle Toes I'm Not

[[DELETED MEMBER 103062]]

I've been driving manual transmissions most of my driving career (50+ years) and for last year I've been in a 2013 2 door JK Rubicon with a man pedal. I don't claim to be the best on the pedals, but I'm generally pretty smooth, even on the trails.

I recently picked up a 2022 2 door JL Rubicon with the six speed manual that has only 6,000 miles. The previous owner impressed me as conservative, as well as experienced, and I don't see any signs that the vehicle was abused, which includes the clutch and transmission but I can't say for sure.

With all that said, I absoultely suck trying to drive that new whimsical 2 stage clutch that's in this JL It's frickin embrassing watching me try to get off the line, let alone be a passenger in the vehicle without a neck brace. WTF!

I guess the good news is, I still have 3.5 years left of drivetrain warranty. However, the active recall on my clutch has no solution yet. Seriously? I'm tempted to put an after market clutch in and take my lumps if the tranny takes a dump but shouldn't have to given the price point on this vehicle.

I'm sure this topic has been beaten to death but I feel better now, and it's all about me. Thanks for reading my rant. P.S. I did just order a couple fire extinguisher mounts just in case.

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[Opus]

You had me at:

I'm sure this topic has be beat to death but I feel better now and it's all about me.

I wish more people were that self-aware. I'm sorry about your clutch problems. Hopefully it will get better with time. In the meantime, the fire extinguishers seem like a reasonable precaution. Maybe a good opportunity to review your life insurance as well.

 

[Ratbert]

Just wait until you're climbing significant rocks with it.

And just wait for the ass clowns to jump in, trying to pump up their own (apparently fragile) egos by claiming that you don't know how to drive a manual.

 

[Reinen]

FWIW, Just like you I'm a long time manual driver. But on the JL I turned to the dark side and opted for the automatic.

Why?

Because the JL auto trans is an excellent auto trans. The JL manual trans is a rather mediocre manual trans. It's not you. The manual trans has clearly become deprioritized in regard to development. They still have a manual trans but they certainly don't take pride in it like they used to.

 

[J.Ferreira]

It takes some effort and patience unfortunately.
For a low end torque vehicle, you need weirdly more throttle than normal. And the clutch is soft, super super soft.
I wouldn't trade mine for anything in the world. Folks rave about the auto, but I've never driven one myself.
I opted to replace the spring under my clutch pedal, helps (a little) with feel, and I have a louder aftermarket exhaust. Between the two, and 26k miles, I've become pretty proficient at it.
Louder exhaust = hear revs better
Spring = feel clutch better.

@Actman explains the clutch return spring in this video
And they created a lighter spring: https://www.advancedclutch.com/871087p-compression-spring-for-jeep-jl-jt-pedal-assembly

Those are the cheap/easy fixes.

Alternatively, you can also upgrade the clutch to one of ACTs or Centerforces clutches.
I've driven the Jeep @gek owns, with an ACT clutch in it with promass flywheel, and it is a night and day difference. It's amazing, and is on my future upgrade list.


Hope this helps, Jeep definitely dropped the ball on the clutch.
Oh, also. The centerforce clutch replacement also replaces all of the hydraulics with JK hydraulics, so you could also go that route and get back your JK routes. But @Actman is very helpful within the forums and has done tons of research on the clutch, so I'd rather suggest their product. And I've only driven one with the ACT clutch, but not a centerforce one yet.

 

[J.Ferreira]

Just wait until you're climbing significant rocks with it.

And just wait for the ass clowns to jump in, trying to pump up their own (apparently fragile) egos by claiming that you don't know how to drive a manual.

I would never do such a thing
But there are certainly some that have.

 

[Vietz2]

You don’t know how to drive stick!!

After reading @Ratbert’s comment, I couldn’t resist. Ass clowns…LOL!

Na, really hope this turns around for ya!

 

[Sparty]

I've been driving manual transmissions most of my driving career (50+ years) and for last year I've been in a 2013 2 door JK Rubicon with a man pedal. I don't claim to be the best on the pedals, but I'm generally pretty smooth, even on the trails.

I recently picked up a 2022 2 door JL Rubicon with the six speed manual that has only 6,000 miles. The previous owner impressed me as conservative, as well as experienced, and I don't see any signs that the vehicle was abused, which includes the clutch and transmission but I can't say for sure.

With all that said, I absoultely suck trying to drive that new whimsical 2 stage clutch that's in this JL It's frickin embrassing watching me try to get off the line, let alone be a passenger in the vehicle without a neck brace. WTF!

I guess the good news is, I still have 3.5 years left of drivetrain warranty. However, the active recall on my clutch has no solution yet. Seriously? I'm tempted to put an after market clutch in and take my lumps if the tranny takes a dump but shouldn't have to given the price point on this vehicle.

I'm sure this topic has been beaten to death but I feel better now, and it's all about me. Thanks for reading my rant. P.S. I did just order a couple fire extinguisher mounts just in case.

Don't worry - it's not you

Driven stick all my life

My first 2-3 months with this JL clutch was challenging....including stalling. All I can say is that you'll get it.....it'll just take some time. Once muscle memory kicks in, you'll get it. Also - (at least with the V6), it likes to shift a little higher in the RPM range than my TJ did.

If you offroad, take advantage of the "Offroad + " button as the throttle response absolutely sucks (read impossible) in any mud/sand

Careful with the recall. Regardless of what's been written, it sounds like all it includes are new parts (not an updated design) and a reflash of the programming to detune the engine/performance when certain criteria are met.

I have 25K miles on mine and not a problem with it. I'm eligible for the recall, but I'm staying away and looking into an aftermarket clutch

 

[Fatfreewilly]

It's not you. I have a 24 JLU manual, and my god it took a while to get used to it. I'm 2, 500 miles in and still not 100% on it with driving manuals for... oh god like 20 years. I'm getting old.

Same thing too though where I have friends saying 'it can't be that bad' and then they'll try it and be like 'Oh wow'.

With the revs needed to make it not stall since the flywheel is so light, I don't see the clutch lasting long. My JK clutch had over 145k and was still strong as day 1, yet I'm wondering if this one will make 100k.

But +1 for ACT with the Promass Flywheel when the factory one dies.

 

[gek]

It takes some effort and patience unfortunately.
For a low end torque vehicle, you need weirdly more throttle than normal. And the clutch is soft, super super soft.
I wouldn't trade mine for anything in the world. Folks rave about the auto, but I've never driven one myself.
I opted to replace the spring under my clutch pedal, helps (a little) with feel, and I have a louder aftermarket exhaust. Between the two, and 26k miles, I've become pretty proficient at it.
Louder exhaust = hear revs better
Spring = feel clutch better.

@Actman explains the clutch return spring in this video
And they created a lighter spring: https://www.advancedclutch.com/871087p-compression-spring-for-jeep-jl-jt-pedal-assembly

Those are the cheap/easy fixes.

Alternatively, you can also upgrade the clutch to one of ACTs or Centerforces clutches.
I've driven the Jeep @gek owns, with an ACT clutch in it with promass flywheel, and it is a night and day difference. It's amazing, and is on my future upgrade list.


Hope this helps, Jeep definitely dropped the ball on the clutch.
Oh, also. The centerforce clutch replacement also replaces all of the hydraulics with JK hydraulics, so you could also go that route and get back your JK routes. But @Actman is very helpful within the forums and has done tons of research on the clutch, so I'd rather suggest their product. And I've only driven one with the ACT clutch, but not a centerforce one yet.

Pretty much nailed it. I switched exhaust less than a month after ownership, and being able to hear it really helped my shifting. Didn't help feel. but helped me hear what the engine was doing and where the best shift points were. Mine really likes to be revved to about 4 grand before shifting. It's higher than I like to shift, but I had to train myself to shift at a higher rpm.

I have had the pleasure to drive and wheel both the manual and 8spd JL transmissions. I can say without a doubt that the 8spd is one of the best automatic transmissions I have ever driven. That said, I still prefer the manual, you can use whatever term us manual purists use, more engaging, more fun, more connected ... etc. Regardless of what terms are used, I simply just enjoy it more.

I replaced my clutch with an ACT JP6 around 16k miles. No mechanical issues with my old clutch, still worked as a clutch should I just did not care for it. I was immediately happier when I was test driving the ACT after I installed it. It took maybe five minutes to get used to, and it felt like a clutch is supposed to feel. By that I mean it had some "feel".

What drove me to replace was safety. I take my families on trips in that Jeep and drive around off road with my family in it, and I'm teaching my kids how to drive manuals in it. I didn't want anything to happen to them and the recall (which turned into just a replacement clutch and some bs software nannies) was going to take a long time to resolve. As a '21 mine isn't even supposed to be scheduled for the fix until August of this year, if I remember correctly. A full year+ after I got fed up with waiting on the recall resolution and put the ACT in.

Link to clutch I went with:
https://www.advancedclutch.com/jp6-hdss-hd-o-perf-street-sprung

Link to my build thread post with my immediate opinions after install:
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...and-poor-money-management.114250/post-2459068

I did a fair amount of research before I pulled the trigger on ACT, but I truly feel that you can't really go wrong with any aftermarket single disc application for the JL.

 

[Old Jeeper]

I've been driving manual transmissions most of my driving career (50+ years) and for last year I've been in a 2013 2 door JK Rubicon with a man pedal. I don't claim to be the best on the pedals, but I'm generally pretty smooth, even on the trails.

I recently picked up a 2022 2 door JL Rubicon with the six speed manual that has only 6,000 miles. The previous owner impressed me as conservative, as well as experienced, and I don't see any signs that the vehicle was abused, which includes the clutch and transmission but I can't say for sure.

With all that said, I absoultely suck trying to drive that new whimsical 2 stage clutch that's in this JL It's frickin embrassing watching me try to get off the line, let alone be a passenger in the vehicle without a neck brace. WTF!

I guess the good news is, I still have 3.5 years left of drivetrain warranty. However, the active recall on my clutch has no solution yet. Seriously? I'm tempted to put an after market clutch in and take my lumps if the tranny takes a dump but shouldn't have to given the price point on this vehicle.

I'm sure this topic has been beaten to death but I feel better now, and it's all about me. Thanks for reading my rant. P.S. I did just order a couple fire extinguisher mounts just in case.

The Man Pedal as we know it has worked well for over 100 years. WHY Jeep come up with a new-bad idea I have no way of knowing.

Like you I have driven stick almost all of my life, going back to learning to drive on Daddys Ford 9N tractor in '62.

KISS, Keep It Simple Stupid, if it works then why change it??????

 

[J.Ferreira]

The Man Pedal as we know it has worked well for over 100 years. WHY Jeep come up with a new-bad idea I have no way of knowing.

Like you I have driven stick almost all of my life, going back to learning to drive on Daddys Ford 9N tractor in '62.

KISS, Keep It Simple Stupid, if it works then why change it??????

To be fair, they didn't change much at all with it.
They just used a super light race inspired clutch in it. Race clutches just aren't meant to move heavy bricks.

 

[azjl#3]

It takes some effort and patience unfortunately.
For a low end torque vehicle, you need weirdly more throttle than normal. And the clutch is soft, super super soft.
I wouldn't trade mine for anything in the world. Folks rave about the auto, but I've never driven one myself.
I opted to replace the spring under my clutch pedal, helps (a little) with feel, and I have a louder aftermarket exhaust. Between the two, and 26k miles, I've become pretty proficient at it.
Louder exhaust = hear revs better
Spring = feel clutch better.

@Actman explains the clutch return spring in this video
And they created a lighter spring: https://www.advancedclutch.com/871087p-compression-spring-for-jeep-jl-jt-pedal-assembly

Those are the cheap/easy fixes.

Alternatively, you can also upgrade the clutch to one of ACTs or Centerforces clutches.
I've driven the Jeep @gek owns, with an ACT clutch in it with promass flywheel, and it is a night and day difference. It's amazing, and is on my future upgrade list.


Hope this helps, Jeep definitely dropped the ball on the clutch.
Oh, also. The centerforce clutch replacement also replaces all of the hydraulics with JK hydraulics, so you could also go that route and get back your JK routes. But @Actman is very helpful within the forums and has done tons of research on the clutch, so I'd rather suggest their product. And I've only driven one with the ACT clutch, but not a centerforce one yet.

Exactly my thought when I test drove two 13 JK right after each other, first the manual, total loser of a clutch, tranny is fine. Then the at the time 6 speed auto, very very good. 8 speed even better. Until Jeep comes out with OEM approaching all your mods, no more manual for me, except in my 73 EB. Not holding my breath.

 

[[DELETED MEMBER 103062]]

FWIW, Just like you I'm a long time manual driver. But on the JL I turned to the dark side and opted for the automatic.

Why?

Because the JL auto trans is an excellent auto trans. The JL manual trans is a rather mediocre manual trans. It's not you. The manual trans has clearly become deprioritized in regard to development. They still have a manual trans but they certainly don't take pride in it like they used to.

I thought long and hard about going to the dark side. My wife's Gladiator is Sport S with the max tow package, 4.10 gears and the 8 speed auto. It's a really great set up and I'm very impressed with that transmission.

 

[J.Ferreira]

Exactly my thought when I test drove two 13 JK right after each other, first the manual, total loser of a clutch, tranny is fine. Then the at the time 6 speed auto, very very good. 8 speed even better. Until Jeep comes out with OEM approaching all your mods, no more manual for me, except in my 73 EB. Not holding my breath.

Can't even blame you, literally everyone raves about the auto.
I should probably see if a friend will let me drive one of theirs one day
Or I suppose I could always go test drive one ?‍ Just go waste some salesman's time, cause I sure ain't tradin' mine in.

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