I have a bad bearing in the A/C pulley. The system works fine but has a wine that sounds like a blower or a gear drive cam.

The clutch is not dragging and the sound is roughly halfed when I turn on the A/C and at its worst when it is off. My thought is the bearing in the pulley spins all of the time and with the clutch pulled in it side loads the bearing to quite it down some. I can hear the noise when turning the pulley by hand.

I have looked up the procedure in the GM shop manual. The clutch plate has to be pulled with a special tool. Then another tool is used to lock into the center of the pulley and pull the pulley off of the compressor shaft.

They list another set of tools to install the bearing and stake it in place and finally another tool to reinstall the pulley on the compressor.

They say that this can be done on the car without opening the A/C system.

Prices for the parts:

Bearing: $20.00

Tools: Not sure

Compressor with shippping: (New GM) $350

Receiver Dryer: (New GM) $50

New Clutch Pulley assembly: $110

My questions:

1) Has anyone done this job, are the special tools needed and where do you get them?

2). Is a functional 90K miles A/C compressor ready to be replaced anyway?

3). What do you think would be the most cost effective way to proceed?

Thanks

Z28

 

I have never had a compressor rebiult last. We will do them but only after we tell the customer that it will not last and we will not warrenty any of the parts or labor. After that I ahve still done 3. All 3 came back bad and needed a compressor anyway. My advise to you would be to replace the compressor. It;s the best sure fire way. You can look into a good aftermarket compressor like 4 seasons. But don't get teh remaned get the new units. SHould still be cheeper then the dealer. While your in there replace the drier (some manufactures recomend rplacment every 2-3 years anyway) This way you can be sure that your going to get a good outcome. By the time you spend 200 bucks rebiulding the compressor you might as well spend 400 getting everytihing new.

 

Thanks sounds like good advice. I was always wary of reman stuff. I always wonder if they just hit with a new coat of paint and put it in a box.

If I didn't need special tools, I would just replace the bearing, but I am leaning toward putting a new ccompressor / dryer on. I don't want to do the job twice.

Thanks

Z28

 

ttt

 

i had that happen. i left it till i was in traffic and that bearing froze up and chewed right through the belt