A/C Pulley Bad Bearing - F-Body Road Racing and Autocross Forums

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

z28barnett View Member Profile	Nov 18 2004, 04:56 PM Post #1
Advanced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 360 Joined: 24-September 04 From: Missouri Member No.: 468	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

John_D. View Member Profile	Nov 18 2004, 05:23 PM Post #2
Engine and Tools Moderator Group: Advanced Members Posts: 1,859 Joined: 23-December 03 From: Lebanon TN Member No.: 6	When the a/c clutch is disengaged, the outer part of the pulley is free-wheeling around the inner part, on a bearing. But when the clutch is engaged, that bearing is no longer rolling because the inner part starts turning too. So if it's still making the noise when the a/c is on, I think it's probably not that bearing. If you have an idler pulley near it, it's probably changing the load on the idler pulley, and that's your most likely culprit. (easier to fix too) (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) A mechanics stethoscope should help you find which pulley exactly. (or a length of garden hose or something similar...) Just be careful not to get the hose caught up in a pulley or belt while you're checking around in there...