Okay, my saga continues. Putting a new clutch on the A/C compressor and have to pick up a holding tool so I can use the old outer clutch assembly (that I cut off the spring from) still and press the new one onto the shaft. If I don't the compressor just turns with it. No room to use a rubber hammer or dead blow. Then I noticed my main belt looks bad and I have to take it off anyhow to put the new A/C belt on, but the tensioner feels stuck. Guess I'll have to use a breaker bar to have the leverage to release the tension on the old belt.

Hopefully, when I have it back together I won't have to undo all the work just to replace the compressor after all.

Just curious, was your clutch assembly bad? Or just preventive maintenance? My sound is worse after a long trip this weekend.

Mine was BAD! When I removed the clutch this is what I was left with on the pictures below. As you can see, the bearing had failed 100%. To the point that it was just pieces and the ball bearings fell out as I removed the bolt for the clutch and the pulley.

Unfortunately for me, the $15 repair didn't work out as I couldn't get the bearing race out of the pulley so I ordered a replacement pulley with the clutch. Now I'm in the process of getting that installed, but have to get a tool to hold/lock the old clutch as I am using it to press the new pulley onto the shaft.

To get that to work I cut off the spring tang from the old clutch along with the center bolt and am using it as a press. Because there isn't enough room for me to get a rubber mallet or dead blow hammer to push on the pulley and bearing.

So the short answer is, no, not preventative maintenance, my bearing was bad and making far too much noise.

WOW, BEYOND PISSED OFF! Finally got the new pulley/bearing to seat and the center retaining bolt now broke off inside the compressor shaft! Nothing to grab onto, can't drill it out (no room) and I'm screwed!!!

Guess it's install the new compressor time without question. CRAP CRAP CRAP!

Ah man that SUCKS! Sorry to hear. Was it the old bolt that broke off when trying to loosen?

Could you provide the part number for the clutch/pulley assembly? I may do that in addition to the bearing.

Well I just verified my bearing is bad. Glad it's not the compressor. Now I need to find a good pair of snap ring pliers to get the pulley off. Bearing is ordered. Stoked it's only $15!

Got the compressor pulley/clutch on ebay and it comes with a new bearing. Hope your bearing isn't a bunch of pieces like mine.

Luckily it's still intact. Just very gritty and gummy.

Good to see!

Well, I guess the call goes out again; anyone in the SF East Bay with A/C experience wants to come out and help with the compressor replacement?

Oh, and a quick question, anyone know the size of the center bolt? It's not shown in realoem.com so I don't know the size.

I'm going to pick up a right angle pneumatic drill and see if I can extract it or not. This is a last ditch effort before compressor replacement.

Thanks in advance