A V-belt continuously variable transmission in which a V-belt is made to run on a drive pulley having a speed responsive mechanism and a driven pulley having a torque responsive mechanism. The torque responsive mechanism of the driven pulley includes a spring cap slidably mounted on a sleeve to which a fixed pulley half or sheave is affixed. The spring cap has a plurality of studs passing through openings formed through the fixed pulley sheave and connected to a movable pulley sheave slidingly mounted on the sleeve. Formed on opposed faces of the fixed pulley sheave and the spring cap are plural arcuate ramps, each including grooves into which balls are inserted to provide rolling contact and reduced friction between the opposed ramps.