Clearance take up means is provided to take up the running clearance between the bed frame and slide of a progressive former at least near the end of the advance of the slide to top dead center, so that the advance is completed under essentially zero clearance conditions. A header slide system must allow a certain amount of running clearance to give room for lubricant and allow for expansion of the slide and bed due to variations in the temperature of the slide and bed. This clearance however compromises the concentricity of the work piece. The present invention enables normal running clearances to be maintained; however, near the front of the slide stroke clearances are eliminated completely by putting a side load on a system of wedges. This system reduces the side to side movement of the slide as well as the cocking about the vertical axis of the slide that occurs with offset heading loads.
