© 2022 Power Automedia. All rights reserved.

Any time a company builds hype about buying, owning, upgrading, or even experiencing a vehicle with a manual transmission, it feels like they have just made a generous donation to a wildlife preservation fund because as we all know, cars with clutches are indeed a dying breed. There’s a really good reason why manuals are disappearing from car lots, and it is not because people are lazy and do not want to row their own. Modern automatics are just really that good.

Brands that produce quality aftermarket products that make automobiles with “boring automatic transmissions” more virile and enjoyable are always appreciated, which explains why we here at Off Road Xtreme remain a huge fan of the Raybestos Powertrain brand. The clutch side of the company has done extremely well for itself over the years too, with recent successes being based heavily upon its line of 10R80 clutch packs for Ford F-150 pickup trucks, Mustangs, and for the all-new Ford Bronco 10R80 Transmissions as well.

But as the infallible 10R80 transmission in the all-new Ford Bronco continues to kick ass in every grudge match imaginable, Raybestos has decided that it’s high time to make its high-performance GPZ friction clutch plates available for another unstoppable off-road application.

Word on the trailhead is that Raybestos has plans to take its industry-leading GPZ Friction Clutch Pack technology, and apply it to the 850RE gearbox found in various Jeep platforms.

The only caveat with all of this exciting news, is that we are still a few more months away from this clutch solution from hitting full production levels. So for those of you with automatic 8-speed FCA gearboxes, please hold your horsepower for a moment, as the GPZ clutch plates for the 850RE are slated to go on sale come early 2022, which last we checked might as well be here already. All the same advantages revealed here will apply to future products.

First of all, it is worth noting that not only do Raybestos Powertrain GPZ friction clutch plates pack transmission performance and durability levels that border on the extreme, but they are also specifically engineered for vehicles that see high-stress driving conditions at both high and low speeds.

This makes GPZ clutch plates ideal for owners 4×4 Jeep Wranglers and the new Ford Bronco. Typically, a Raybestos product can outperform OE applications by 20%, even at rock crawling speeds, when having a crisp shift can mean the difference between a successful ascent and getting stuck. Furthermore, these clutch packs are praised for providing performance gains that mirror aftermarket enhanced power increases, thus creating incredibly reliable results for those looking to make forced induction upgrades the focus of their Jeep build.

It may look like some sort of bio-organic compost experiment when magnified beneath a microscope, but the clutch plate materials utilized within Raybestos GPZ Clutch Pack Modules pack some seriously impressive performance gains. Photo Credit: Raybestos Powertrain

While heavy-duty load hauling machines, commercial vehicles, and “high-stress driving” sports cars remain this product’s preferred host, Raybestos GPZ Friction Clutch Pack Modules also shine in situations that many may take for granted. Things like enhanced paddle shift feel, unwavering structural integrity during spirited romps down to the grocery store, and zero piston travel woes all make for a product that can be thrashed to hell and back, both off-road and on.

As the demand for manual 4×4 vehicles becomes increasingly hyper-focused on the act of preservation, recognizing the practicality of having zero transmission headaches during stop-and go traffic is an inescapable truth. All Raybestos Powertrain Clutch Plates are made in USA and backed by an impressive satisfaction warranty.

Build your own custom newsletter with the content you love from Off Road Xtreme, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE!

© 2022 Power Automedia. All rights reserved.

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

We'll send you the most exciting Off Road articles, news, truck features, and videos every week.

We promise not to use your email address for anything but exclusive updates from the Power Automedia Network.

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Thank you for your subscription.

We think you might like...

We think you might like...

Thank you for your subscription.