Bearings on my A/C compressor went out
07-24-2011, 04:14 PM
#16
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Model: Cherokee
I'm not an automotive AC guy, but I am EPA certified.. I did compressors for the last 6 years till I got laid off..
I never vacuumed the system before charging. I would open one side, till my gauges showed a vacuum, and closed it off.. Then I charged it up to pressure.. Never had an ounce of trouble in all 6 yrs of doing it.
If I would have done it properly, with an evac unit, recovery tank, and vacuum pump, I would have had to drive hours back to the shop to get them, and hours back to the job site, and we just didn't have that kind of time. So I did it all with an empty recovery tank, my gauges, and a tank of 134a..
Carried less tool, got the job done fast, and it never failed.
I don't know if I would attempt it though, without training. But you can do it if you learn how it works.
If the system is empty you have nothing to worry about, but if it still has charge, you can NOT blow off the charge into the air. #1 it will displace the oxygen and kill you, #2 it's a 10,000 fine, or was back then, or so I was told.
I never vacuumed the system before charging. I would open one side, till my gauges showed a vacuum, and closed it off.. Then I charged it up to pressure.. Never had an ounce of trouble in all 6 yrs of doing it.
If I would have done it properly, with an evac unit, recovery tank, and vacuum pump, I would have had to drive hours back to the shop to get them, and hours back to the job site, and we just didn't have that kind of time. So I did it all with an empty recovery tank, my gauges, and a tank of 134a..
Carried less tool, got the job done fast, and it never failed.
I don't know if I would attempt it though, without training. But you can do it if you learn how it works.
If the system is empty you have nothing to worry about, but if it still has charge, you can NOT blow off the charge into the air. #1 it will displace the oxygen and kill you, #2 it's a 10,000 fine, or was back then, or so I was told.
07-24-2011, 04:31 PM
#17
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Location: The Republic of TEXAS
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO
Everything I've read says when the old compressor is replaced, it's a good idea to also replace the accumulator/dryer and orifice tube as they are both filters and probably have accumulated crud. Not sure about a '92 but 4 bolts hold the compressor on a '98, 1 bolt holds the manifold/hose assembly, 2 bolts at the accumulator and 4 quick connects. Pour a/c flush in the evap and cond and blow with compressed air, make sure new compressor is empty of oil, pour 1/2 of exact amount of oil for a '92 in the new accumulator, the other 1/2 in the new compressor. Button it all up and let a shop pull a vacuum/recharge. Did ours in the driveway 13 mos ago, works great.
Last edited by djb383; 07-24-2011 at 04:34 PM.
05-19-2013, 04:59 PM
#18
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A\C Clutch Bearing
NO, NO, NO!!!!!
You can MOST DEFINITELY install it yourself. A couple bolts is all that holds it on.
I did my '99 just 2 summers ago when the same thing happened. PAY ATTENTION HERE!!!!:
I was on a 3 hour trip headed south and about 15 minutes from my destination I thought I could smell burning grease. About 5 minutes out I knew something wasnt right so we pulled over. Yup, the pulley was incredibly hot and smelled like grease. I figured, well, its shot, we're 5 minutes out, lets just get there. When we pulled in it was smoking bad and I knew it was shot. Later on I started messing with things and sure enough he pulley was gone so I THOUGHT it was the bearing. I knew I couldnt drive it home so we called my uncle who tows and with our insurance and AAA I paid $38 bucks to get her home.....but it was going to take a week. No problem. So we got a ride home and before we got Goldie back home I started shopping around for bearing. They were between $10 and $20 bucks. COOL!!!! Not so fast. Turns out on the '99 I couldnt swap just the bearing, I needed a whole new compressor. So, after shopping around I found one with a good warranty for like $230.
Goldie gets brought home and the new compressor arrives that same day. Good timing. I drove her a mile to the local shop to have the AC evaced. Told them what happened, etc., and they said $130 to evac it, then redo the new one. So I go home and pull the pulley and see why I couldnt just swap the bearing: There is a formed "lip" that holds the bearing in, and thats whats actually gone. Half of it literally fell apart, screwing up the pulley. So anyway, I swap out the compressors and took it to the local shop where they vacuumed it, etc., and got her blowing incredibly cold, all for $130ish. So, $350 later I had a new compressor and it was all charged up.
You can MOST DEFINITELY change out the compressor. Its a really simple job. Its the evacing, vacuuming and charging that you cant do.
You can MOST DEFINITELY install it yourself. A couple bolts is all that holds it on.
I did my '99 just 2 summers ago when the same thing happened. PAY ATTENTION HERE!!!!:
I was on a 3 hour trip headed south and about 15 minutes from my destination I thought I could smell burning grease. About 5 minutes out I knew something wasnt right so we pulled over. Yup, the pulley was incredibly hot and smelled like grease. I figured, well, its shot, we're 5 minutes out, lets just get there. When we pulled in it was smoking bad and I knew it was shot. Later on I started messing with things and sure enough he pulley was gone so I THOUGHT it was the bearing. I knew I couldnt drive it home so we called my uncle who tows and with our insurance and AAA I paid $38 bucks to get her home.....but it was going to take a week. No problem. So we got a ride home and before we got Goldie back home I started shopping around for bearing. They were between $10 and $20 bucks. COOL!!!! Not so fast. Turns out on the '99 I couldnt swap just the bearing, I needed a whole new compressor. So, after shopping around I found one with a good warranty for like $230.
Goldie gets brought home and the new compressor arrives that same day. Good timing. I drove her a mile to the local shop to have the AC evaced. Told them what happened, etc., and they said $130 to evac it, then redo the new one. So I go home and pull the pulley and see why I couldnt just swap the bearing: There is a formed "lip" that holds the bearing in, and thats whats actually gone. Half of it literally fell apart, screwing up the pulley. So anyway, I swap out the compressors and took it to the local shop where they vacuumed it, etc., and got her blowing incredibly cold, all for $130ish. So, $350 later I had a new compressor and it was all charged up.
You can MOST DEFINITELY change out the compressor. Its a really simple job. Its the evacing, vacuuming and charging that you cant do.
05-20-2013, 11:49 PM
#20
Senior Member
You can MOST DEFINITELY replace just the bearing. Mine was toast and I bought one of the $20 ones online. The old one was staked into the pulley at about 6 places, we ground those off, pressed the bad one out, and pressed the new one in using special Loctite meant for the purpose. Slid it back on and everything's fine. I wasn't interested in buying even a rebuilt compressor to replace one that's perfectly good, plus the bother of evacuating the system and a recharge...
Seriously though, on my '99 you could NOT replace just the bearing. The '99 came with a compressor that you COULD NOT replace the bearing on. Do some googling, youll find all the info you need. I found this out after going to a few different parts stores, getting BOTH answers and finally going straight to the dealer.
IF, and thats a big if, you have a '99 that you CAN replace the bearing on, its because the compressor has been changed from the factory. You CAN NOT buy JUST the bearing for a '99. Unless of course in the past 2 years since this post originated theyve somehow changed that.
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