The invention relates to a wedge drive (1) designed to redirect a vertical pressing force into a horizontal, linear working motion, comprising a slide element (2) and a slide element holder (3), whichare two guide elements (2, 3), on which a guide device having a sliding plate assembly (10, 20, 30), which has two side sliding plates (10, 30) and a center guide (20), is arranged, the side slidingplates (10, 30) being spaced apart from each other in a transverse direction (Y), which is perpendicular to the sliding direction (X), the center guide (20) being arranged between the two side slidingplates (10, 20) and being fastened to the slide element (2), the two side sliding plates (10, 30) being designed having at least one shoulder (11, 13), which lies against a corresponding step (3a, 3b) formed on the guide element (3) with interlocking connection, the interlocking connection being effective in or against the defined transverse direction (Y) such that transverse forces are caught and each side sliding plate (10, 30) lies against the slide element holder (3) by means of at least the following contact surfaces (12 or 32,): one contact surface (12, 32) lies on a first plane (E1) and extends in the transverse direction (Y) and a second contact surface (14, 34) lies on a second plane (E2) spaced apart from the first plane and likewise extends in the transverse direction (Y) and athird contact surface (13 or 33) extends perpendicularly thereto.