Whatever the second small flat piece on my ac compressor is appears to be loose and wobbling. It is making a pretty load squeal about 50% of the time. Anyone know what I need to do? New front portion? New whole compressor?

 

You can replace the clutch, bearing and shaft seal on most A/C compressors. Usually requires some special tools to do it right and the compressor's usually half wore out anyways. Easiest way to repair is trade your compressor for a new one before it piles up and smokes the belt off.

 

I think AC compressors where about $250 to $300...That was a few years back..

 

Carefully examine the front of the clutch, there are thin flat spring steel pieces that are prone to breaking, if they are broken allowing the front disc to wobble and not engage properly the front disc part can easily be changed without removing the whole clutch.

 

mine did that then it siezed and stalled the engine,Discount AC parts in california (ebay) $230 shipped to my brothers place in Baltimore for free then $40 for him to giftwrap and mail it to canada...gift there is no import duty or taxes on a gift...hummmm...

 

Thanks y'all. I will investigate the pieces on the front.
The ac still pump cold air great but just makes a ton of noise.

 

How many miles are on it? Just curious. I've got 300,000 on my AC unit and it still works great with no noise.

 

200k

 

mine shat at 240-250k miles(not km)

 

From reading the manual it sounds like the shims are missing As Busboy stated. I believe the shims are what keeps the correct air gap which refers to the distance between the second ring and the pulley or housing of the compressor.

The directions are not that great. It doesn't show pictures of these shims or installing them. It sounds like I would need to take the compressor off the engine, use the puller to remove the outer two rings then install the washer/shims and re install. Sounds like the right way to do it is on the work bench. I cant capture the refrigerant so I guess that means I cannot do this myself! Am I missing something? Can I remove from the engine and let it hang on wire while I use the puller kind of like working on a brake caliper?

 

I wouldn't let it hang on anything. I am pretty sure I saw someone remove the clutch while it was still on the engine though, are you sure you need to pull the compressor?

 

No but I am confident the sh
ims are gone because the second ring is wobbling.

 

My A/C unit has the same issue. The bearing also was over heating causing a burning odor. I replaced the serpentine belt made with Non-AC belt for now. In the spring I'll work on the A/C unit bearing assembly. Just an option.

 

I have purchased a non ac belt, new compressor, accumulator, office tube, oil and o rings. Before I stop at a shop and have them capture my refrigerant I am thinking about shimming between the two pieces on front of the existing compressor and welding them. Does anyone see harm in attempting this?

 

If I weld the two pieces together does that make the clutch no longer function and keep the compressor on the whole time which would pop some type of pressure release?