2017 GT PP - AC Compressor Bearing Stuck

[sk47]

With the time and tools you've got into the clutch you won't be saving much over a new on with evacuation and refill.

Hello; I am one who attempts repairs before going to a shop. Been doing so since the 1960's. Sometimes it does not work out to save money. Most of the time it does. On top of this there is the stuff we learn.
My take is the internals of the AC system will remain sealed if the OP is successful with that bearing. Remaining sealed is a key aspect of the job.
Could be the job will not work out this time. Odds are most DIY will and the money saved over time does mount up.
Besides anyone with enough money can hire a job done, but when you wrench on your own car it more truly becomes yours.

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[sk47]

Hello; While the OP likely is in a wrestling match with a stuck bearing let me fill in the down time with another reason to repair rather than replace. Every new manufactured thing uses up some amount of natural resources as well as some amount of energy during that manufacture. If the item is metal then the energy used to mine, refine and transport the ores has to be added to that energy used to forge or cast the metal.
Point I am driving at is an entire compressor has a lot more energy "debt' in it than just the replacement bearing and clutch mechanism. By repairing the bearing & clutch the OP will, if successful, save the mining, smelting and other energy needed for a new compressor.

So, there is another angle other than just saving money. When we repair, we also save the environmental impact of making new. The last two days i spent some hours attempting to repair a small floor jack. Not one of my bigger ones. A small one I can carry with one hand and cost maybe $25 a few decades ago. Turned out to be a leaky O ring. Sure, I could throw away and buy a new one and add the environmental impact of manufacture to our world. I hope to have avoided that with one rubber O ring.

 

[Strokerswild]

Has anyone come up with a kit to eliminate the AC compressor on these cars? Seems like it would be a thing for track cars.

 

[shiparino]

Bought the $30 puller tool, modified the puller tool, removed the bearing, $40 in parts on the way (bearing and clutch plate)… fingers crossed.

 

[sk47]

Bought the $30 puller tool, modified the puller tool, removed the bearing, $40 in parts on the way (bearing and clutch plate)… fingers crossed.

Hello; Good to hear. A true thing is we often have to modify or even make tools. On your way to shade tree stardom.

 

[sk47]

Bought the $30 puller tool, modified the puller tool, removed the bearing, $40 in parts on the way (bearing and clutch plate)… fingers crossed.

Hello; If you have a shop press those races (the two rings of the bearing) might be handy to have around.

 

[sk47]

Hello; to the OP, how did the repair go?

 

[shiparino]

Hello; to the OP, how did the repair go?

Hi sk47, Got the new bearing and AC clutch installed, bought a dumb stretch belt tool that was worthless, ended up just using my hand to hold it against the pulley as I wrenched the crank bolt. Everything lines up and everything spins. But haven't made it to a shop to get the system recharged. It's either going to work or the compressor is bad and all of this was for nothing. But like you said, better to attempt to fix it than just take it to a shop or replace everything from the start. I'm really good at threading my accessory belt now (ha), plus I took the opportunity to fix my split belly pan with fiberglass. Another cheap fix that kept the big piece of plastic out of the landfill.

 

[RazzaRossa]

Hi sk47, Got the new bearing and AC clutch installed, bought a dumb stretch belt tool that was worthless, ended up just using my hand to hold it against the pulley as I wrenched the crank bolt. Everything lines up and everything spins. But haven't made it to a shop to get the system recharged. It's either going to work or the compressor is bad and all of this was for nothing. But like you said, better to attempt to fix it than just take it to a shop or replace everything from the start. I'm really good at threading my accessory belt now (ha), plus I took the opportunity to fix my split belly pan with fiberglass. Another cheap fix that kept the big piece of plastic out of the landfill.

Take a Pic of how you "modified" the tool please. I bought a 3 jaw puller set from HFT, Papa bear, Moma bear and Baby bear kinda sizes, used it for pulling bearings on my pool pump motor.

 

[shiparino]

Ok, final post on the outcome. Although I was able to replace the bearing and clutch, the compressor was shot. So the gratification I got from "fixing" the issue, was short lived. But I bought a cheap compressor and valve, swapped them out, then got the system recharged by a Yelp reviewed mechanic shop, and the system is running cold now. A bit of a pain in the ass, but still much less than having it all done by a shop. <$300 for parts (including the parts I threw away), $150 for the recharge and a couple weekends vs $1k+. Have no fear of digging into an issue, just go for it.

 

[Whitedevil95]

Ok, final post on the outcome. Although I was able to replace the bearing and clutch, the compressor was shot. So the gratification I got from "fixing" the issue, was short lived. But I bought a cheap compressor and valve, swapped them out, then got the system recharged by a Yelp reviewed mechanic shop, and the system is running cold now. A bit of a pain in the ass, but still much less than having it all done by a shop. <$300 for parts (including the parts I threw away), $150 for the recharge and a couple weekends vs $1k+. Have no fear of digging into an issue, just go for it.

Thanks for posting the final results. Seems like the best option ends up just replacing the whole compressor. When mine went I got a motorcraft compressor swapped it out, recharged, and done.

 

[shiparino]

Thanks for posting the final results. Seems like the best option ends up just replacing the whole compressor. When mine went I got a motorcraft compressor swapped it out, recharged, and done.

Yes that would have been easier, but I was determined to fix that squealing bearing. haha Considered the Motorcraft part, but the $450 and the fact that the car is pissing me off right now, made me go cheap.

 

[Snakebyte]

I've learned that when you have a squealing or grinding bearing, it probably indicates wear that has caused seal damage as well. So when it gets to that point, I now replace sealing surfaces as well as the bearings. Not sure how much work that would have been for you @shiparino, but regardless, sometimes it can be worth a try to do as you did.

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