Bad A/C Clutch, fix options?

I've got a 2004 4x4 v6, it finally stopped raining long enough for me to shoot some video of the odd noise i have been hearing when the A/C or defrost was on. And it was pretty clear right away that the clutch on the compressor was what was causing the issue.

So my question is, can you replace just the bearing on this, or do you have to get the entire clutch assembly? Guessing this is a dealership part for best results?

Skip to about 20 seconds the clutch engages shortly after that, before that is just 20 seconds of it spinning fine, and lots of wind noise. Once it comes on though, you can see it wobbling pretty good.

 

Are you sure its the clutch, and not the bearing?

Years ago, I had an A/C clutch go out on me (it simply froze up so it didn't spin, causing a squealing/smelly belt).
The FSM (1984 Toyota pickup) had a procedure for removing just the clutch. I got a used one and put it on. I had to disconnect and remove the compressor first, though. I've heard that you can do it on some vehicles without disconnecting the coolant lines, but not sure which ones allow you to do that.

 

From what I have seen it is just one bolt and a spring clip that hold on the clutch. And itlooks like the same procedure that you use to change the belts will give you the room to change the clutch.
I called toyota and a new a/c clutch assembly is $245
But I found this compressor with clutch for $180 and I can swap the one off it for mine
http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=2023216&cc=1429084&jnid=365&jpid=1

Does anyone know if I can change just the bearing that is bad on the a/c clutch, and if so do you have a part number or a link for it?
Or a better price on the clutch would work

 

Have you tried napa online? Put in your vehicle and then start looking. Maybe orileys?

 

I replaced the A/C compressor bearing on my '96 a while back. I bought the bearing from

$32 NSK AC Compressor OEM Clutch Bearing 30BD5222DUM6 A/C

Amazon for $39.50.

Here's a pretty good thread on how to replace it:
http://www.yotatech.com/f160/how-c-your-3-4-swap-251179/

 

Actually, I just watched the video. That sounds nothing like my bearing did. Mine sounded more like a whining, which usually indicates a bearing on its way out. Maybe your bearing is already shot, though...

 

Thanks for the info, i am convinced it is the bearing, more then anything just by how much the pulley wobbles when it is engaged, i will give the bearing a go first and hope Amazon has the correct one listed for the truck.

 

I heard it's just easier to replace the whole compressor because it's a bitch to get to the spring clip, especially when it's still in the vehicle.

 

Thanks for the info, guess i will find out, i found a bearing on Amazon for $20 and will try replacing the bearing first. I'll pull the compressor if i have to, but i think that is a last resort as that also requires the system to be discharged, and refilled, and my understanding is, that once you open a system, you will have to replace other things.
My a/c works very well, i do not want to mess with that system unless i absolutely have to.

 

Makes sense to attempt without pulling compressor. Let us know how it goes.

 

Well, it is possible to change the a/c compressor clutch while the compressor is installed on a 2004 v6 4x4, and all you need to do to have the room to work is drop the forward skid plate., loosen the idle pulley and remove the belt from the clutch pulley.

One of these

$9 OEMTOOLS 27000 Clutch Holding Tool

https://www.amazon.com/OEMTOOLS-27000-Clutch-Holding-Tool/dp/B004FEHXTI makes removing the bolt that holds on the pressure plate a breeze, you can get one as a loaner from autozone, like i did, if you dont want to buy one, should also point out autozone wants $25 for that exact tool. The bolt just came right out easily, and the pressure plate also came off easily. So i knew i was in trouble, it never is easy.

Once i got that removed, i saw a lot of grease from what looked like the bearing down in the area where the spring clip is. i used a hook to clean that out, and a inspection mirror http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Round-Lighted-Inspection-Mirror-80556H/206266275 to get a look at the spring clip.

That was when i found that the spring clip had broken apart, i found 2 of 3 of its parts, but laying those 2 parts out makes a pretty big gap of missing area. My guess is, this is what was causing the wobbling of the pulley when the system was turned on. I would like to say that with the mirror getting that clip off would be pretty easy. you might need a set of right angle spring clip pliers, but that would be about all you would have to have other then the mirror.

The pulley was kinda hard to remove, but, it was not stuck, i had to tap it with a rubber mallet a couple of times and then it came right off.

I had already purchased a new bearing for it

Santech Industries MT2027 Air Conditioning Clutch Bearing

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0049PNTFK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Amazon said it would fit, and it did. i went ahead and changed it out, figure i got it and am that deep into the fix, might as well go ahead and change that while im at it. i did spin the factory bearing, and it seemed like it was fine, so my guess is, this problem was 100% that spring clip.

Now however i am having to wait till tuesday for toyota to get the spring clip in, i cant find anything on it online, or i would try to order one. Does anyone have a toyota parts website?

 

There are lots of dealers that have online stores and even a couple sites that only deal on oemparts. Camelback toyota is one of the dealer stores alot of people use. Just do a Google search you'll find em with no problem.

 

I will assume that was all it was then?

 

Yes, and no, i changed the bearing and spring cli[, and things were good, but the problem came back a couple of months later due to the factory spring clip gouging a spiral grove in the compressor itself, that caused the new spring to eventually find this grove and break as well, after the 2nd time i replaced the bearing and spring clip and it again messed up and needed replacing within a few months, i just replaced the entire compressor, been going for about a year and a half with zero issues

 

I am replacing the AC condenser clutch. It spins but makes noise i think someone who fixed my truck last banged it on there i see scraped metal on the wheel and its squealing now.

 

Did you see dust around the ac like asbestos? I can see kinda brown dust around mine. Wonder if the bearing may be the problem.

 

The brown dust is from the clutch assembly. Generally speaking when that brown dust is visable when u remove that pully its generally a sign the compressor internals are still okay n ur issue is the clutch assembly. the compressor itself isnt generally bad and a new clutch assembly can be replaced for much cheaper than an oem compressor obv. Its a bolt that removes the assembly than a small washer will be in there and a small snap ring needs to be removed and then u can replace it all. Its still not cheap for that whole kit is usually like a hundred or so but usually comes with everything to rebuild it. You can find refurbished units for 120 or so but new from the toyota the entire compressor is like 500 so its obv cheaper than that. However the only issue is unless u have the right equipment if the entire system needs to be emptied (which technically it should be done properly) and refilled you should at lesst bring it to a shop for that part of it. Any mechanic should be able to do that aspect of it. Maybe even run a couple of test as well to ensure everything else is properly working. If its holding the correct pressure n u dont have leaks its absolutely not that big of a job realistically.

 

Hey there. So I'm about to change out the bearing in my ac clutch pulley? I noticed you said if you had an inspection mirror and right angle clip pliers. It wouldn't be to hard. Now when you got the new clip and put it back in. How hard was it. What did you use. I see you did it a couple times before replacing the whole compressor. So what tools did you use to put it back together. Hope I'm making sense. Thanks in advance.