Centerforce out ACT in.........

[Zachattack50]

If anyone has been following my intermittent posts on the clutch issues with our 2022 heres the latest update. Got back from a weekend trip to Drumond island, about half way though the trip started having the same stuck shifter issues we had in Moab. Made it home and bled the clutch again, ended up dropping the trans for the third time. So the timeline goes as follows, Replaced stock clutch at 9k miles with centerforce kit, in fall 2022, went to EJS in 24 with 23k miles on the unit, had issues with not wanting to come out of gear, hard engagement. Contacted centerforce and decided to pull the trans and use their "updated" throwout bearing, basically a ford style bearing. Seemed to work ok until this latest trip. Jeeps now currently at 48k miles, when I removed the trans for inspection because theres no inspection covers.... I found the boot on the throwout bearing wadded up, and the pressure plate full of mud. Fairly confident that one could clean the clutch and use it, but if I have the trans out I'm not putting that clutch back in. ACT is in now, with the factory slave cylinder, and linkage. Also there are some new inspection/clean out holes for future use. Fingers crossed we get more than 20k out of the ACT. Centerforce kit will be listed in the for sale section once I get pictures up. Clutch engagement on the ACT is more like the JK, once its broke in we will see how the modulation feels compared to the centerforce.

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[Zachattack50]

The ACT combo is about 4lbs lighter if anyone is wondering. Also the packaging and fit and finish is far superior to the center force.

 

[Gatorized]

The ACT combo is about 4lbs lighter if anyone is wondering. Also the packaging and fit and finish is far superior to the center force.

How does that compare to the OEM clutch?

 

[Thunderspud]

I think I just want my clutch to be more..........truck-like. Our little turbo-diesel Roxor with the ancient 5spd has about the perfect clutch for the way I want to drive the Gladiator. Nothing refined about it, but it's a pleasure to row through gears because of how utterly mechanical it feels. Probably never gonna replicate that with the shift boxes in the newer vehicles, but maybe the heavier flywheel available in the ACT kit would at least change things up a bit. At least that's my hope for when I eventually decide to install it.

 

[Gatorized]

I think I just want my clutch to be more..........truck-like. Our little turbo-diesel Roxor with the ancient 5spd has about the perfect clutch for the way I want to drive the Gladiator. Nothing refined about it, but it's a pleasure to row through gears because of how utterly mechanical it feels. Probably never gonna replicate that with the shift boxes in the newer vehicles, but maybe the heavier flywheel available in the ACT kit would at least change things up a bit. At least that's my hope for when I eventually decide to install it.

The ACT clutch does give you back that truck like feel…. But neither the CF or ACT appear to be without their own issues. You would think that the one item that has been around since the dawn of motorized vehicles would be fool proof in the 21st century.

 

[Zachattack50]

After running both now, I can say I had no issues with the pedal feel of the CF with both their external slave cylinder and the internal slave cylinder they just dont hold up to mild wheeling. At least not for me. The ACT so far I have 80 miles on it breaking it in, the feel is definitely a bit heavier, and there is a definite over center feel when you cycle the clutch pedal. Release is consistent and smooth, the only weak point I see so far is the plastic throw-out bearing still, which is what went on the first CF setup. The cable shifted trans is total trash imho enough so that if I had to do it over Id go auto, the only nice part of the stick is it adds an element of driver skill for me on the trails, that helps keep me entertained on the mediocre Midwest trails I have readily available.

 

[Zachattack50]

I think I just want my clutch to be more..........truck-like. Our little turbo-diesel Roxor with the ancient 5spd has about the perfect clutch for the way I want to drive the Gladiator. Nothing refined about it, but it's a pleasure to row through gears because of how utterly mechanical it feels. Probably never gonna replicate that with the shift boxes in the newer vehicles, but maybe the heavier flywheel available in the ACT kit would at least change things up a bit. At least that's my hope for when I eventually decide to install it.

The mahindras are cool, its just hard to cover alot of ground with them

 

[Thunderspud]

The mahindras are cool, its just hard to cover alot of ground with them

True.........but you sure feel like you're hauling ass, lol. I put almost 5k on ours last summer/fall just from jaunts to the mountains, fall festivals, baseball games, and random shop runs to the auto parts store. It's so handy to have around.

Also, I should clarify that I don't have any real complaints with the Gladiators' manual trans/clutch. It's only in direct comparison to the Roxor (and the old J2000 with the 4 speed) that it even crosses my mind. The automatic is great as well (had two auto Gladiators before this one), it's just fundamentally at odds with what I wanted out of the experience.

I'll definitely be interested in reading any updates you end up posting here. The ACT kit has been sitting in a box in our shop for half a year now. Maybe your experience will motivate me to get off my ass and finish the job.

 

[Zachattack50]

Id have a hard time road tripping the roxor from Michigan to moab and back If I had more property here to use one Id be down! Plus we have a2 door JK that handles the running duties. I honestly prefer the JK manual in all its stock 140k mile glory over the cable shift 6 speed of the gladiator, Rev hang with the 3.6 is awful as well.

 

[JT1]

Id have a hard time road tripping the roxor from Michigan to moab and back If I had more property here to use one Id be down! Plus we have a2 door JK that handles the running duties. I honestly prefer the JK manual in all its stock 140k mile glory over the cable shift 6 speed of the gladiator, Rev hang with the 3.6 is awful as well.

The rev hang can be tuned out, but I think Livernois is the only one who does it (if you ask).
Does the heavy flywheel from ACT or centerforce make it easier to live with?

 

[Zachattack50]

So far the ACT seems to be a little better than the CF, Im thinking that may be the 4lbs lighter affect. I generally shift around 3500, the hang get worse the higher you rev it. On the trail you have no issues as your not really shifting anyway. The heavier flywheel there is awesome.

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