A/C pulley bearing

[paranoidjack]

The one thing I've never done to my car, and always wanted to, was remove the A/C compressor and perform required maintenance. I recall Q45tech saying once the oil should be changed, or something to that effect.

My achilles tendon was hit today!

I believe the bearing in the pulley is bad as it makes an intermittent sound of agony and death from the a/c compressor.

A/C to this day still performs ice cold. Sorry Dennis and Brian, no official thermometer readings. Cold enough that an anal OEM-obsessed person like myself never bothered to attack it - so cold enough.

Anyway, can I replace just the A/C bearing? The compressor is fine, as it blows very cold air virtually immediately. Looking here:

http://www.infinitipartsusa.co...gid=0

...it seems that I need to replace the clutch. I've never worked on an A/C compressor...it's $253 bucks. Is this the bad part? Is the bearing/pulley part of the clutch?

Never have purchased junkyard parts but am hard up on cash, and will if I have to. Also, what other components on/within the compressor should I rehab while I have it out?

Obviously, I am not runnning A/C until I have the bearing fixed so I don't destroy the compressor.

Also, 180,000 miles. Amazing for OEM parts. This is why I love my car.
Modified by paranoidjack at 9:11 PM 8/26/2009

[paranoidjack]

PS: anyone know why an A/C compressor that's not "plugged" goes bad after being exposed to outside air?

I'm wondering if I can find an OEM junkyard one, and rebuild my compressor, and reuse its clutch in mine.

Otherwise, I'm thinking of replacing the clutch only without removing the compressor, grabbing the clutch from a low mileage junker for about $100. Can anyone speak to the feasibility of replacing the clutch without r&r'ing the compressor? I am aware of the clutch removal tool, etc...

[lino]

Maybe texasoil might be able to help you. It's worth a try:

zer...54961

His contact info:

http://www.activesuspensionsystems.com/ ... nsion.com/

[paranoidjack]

Maybe texasoil might be able to help you. It's worth a try:

zer...54961

His contact info:

http://www.activesuspensionsystems.com/ ... nsion.com/

Thanks, messaged him.

[qship96]

At 180,000 miles, economically smart thing to do is to replace the entire A/c compressor assembly{which comes with new clutch} with a nissan reman or new unit. Even if you go through the trouble to just replace the wornout clutch now, at 180,000 miles of use, the future replacement of your compressor is just right around the corner......no need to duplicate efforts and clutch parts costs/labor.....do it all now and be done with it for the next 180K miles.

[paranoidjack]

At 180,000 miles, economically smart thing to do is to replace the entire A/c compressor assembly{which comes with new clutch} with a nissan reman or new unit. Even if you go through the trouble to just replace the wornout clutch now, at 180,000 miles of use, the future replacement of your compressor is just right around the corner......no need to duplicate efforts and clutch parts costs/labor.....do it all now and be done with it for the next 180K miles.

Agreed 100%.

If I have to r&r the compressor, the A/C will wait until I can afford a new compressor.

If I can change the clutch without r&r'ing the compressor, I will do so.

I NEVER, EVER skimp on this car - every 3k, Mobil 1 changes, fluid changes ahead of schedule with all recommended or OEM, all suspension rehabbed (twice) with OEM parts from Joe.

I have spent nearly 30k on this car, including the 18k I paid for it when I had 72k on it. Need a few more miles to make my money back.

However, filed chapter 7 last week as hard times have come, and just can't justify $600 for A/C in September. Can't do it. $130 - maybe.

And...it will STILL break my heart every time I turn the key there is a junkyard part on my car. Every, every, every, time.

[Kiven422]

just curious are you sure its not an idler pulley that the bearing is bad on?... the one that holds the belt tight.

[paranoidjack]

Man, that would be great. Haven't been able to get under it yet, but it sounds like the compressor. Idler would be a dream come true (for the moment).

[lino]

When I bought my car it had noise coming out of that area and I had 5 different mechanics check it out and all of them said something different because they weren't able to isolate the noise. Eventually as time went by I ended up replacing bearings, belts, the alternator, etc... it wasn't just one thing, but the main noise was from a bearing and I never had to replace any major component due to noise.