Thunder's Garage Tetris: 04 Taco + 12 CTS-V + 06 GSXR

replacing the AC clutch pulley is a little harder, especially with it still on the truck. I believe it involves a snap ring and something to keep the pulley or bearing from spinning when you try to remove it.

Do you have a lot of pulley wobble when the AC is engaged?

 

That's what I'm seeing so far online, not sure if I want to replace the entire clutch assembly or just the bearing.

I haven't checked it with the AC on, but I can hear it from inside the truck. I took a video but after just watching the video you can only hear it on the side where the AC clutch is. But I'm quite sure it's the bearing because I went through some deep water a few months ago

 

I take it it wasn't making a whining noise that changes with RPMs like mine? That was the compressor itself in my case

 

It sounds just like the idler pulley going bad but since I just replaced it I know it's not that. Which leads me to that other bearing but it does make a whining noise as the RPM's change. I don't think the compressor is going bad itself tho, how could you diagnose that?

 

hard to tell without opening it up. I didn't have any wobble on the pulley when AC was engaged, nor when disengaged. So I didn't think it was the bearing. Took the compressor out and it was VERY low on oil. Probably the dealer who installed it many years ago did not put oil in it properly. Put new compressor in with proper amount of oil and it's been good to go

 

Rolled over 190k and missed it. Still runs like a champ. Getting closer to the 200k club

 

Need to get my UBJs replaced, been putting it off for a year.. but now I'm definitely hearing a "pop" when pulling into the slightly curbed driveway to my alley. Not sure I want to wheel with it until they're replaced.

 

Some new grease and this stuff kept mine together for a long time after they started wearing out and the boots tore. Not that I'd recommend not replacing them as soon as you can. This makes a nice boot patch to keep them greased though. https://www.walmart.com/ip/3M-Super...EWFzG00_b_rO9HcGFMuCMbjU_DdXu_LxoCc9wQAvD_BwE

 

that's what I did for a while, especially after LBL last year made them squeak really bad. I stuffed them full of grease through the torn boot hole and it quieted them down, but I'm definitely noticing a knocking noise now. I was able to get another year out of them at least haha

 

Cancelled this order.

I ordered this in late March and was told 6 week lead time.
After 8 weeks, I called them and they told me they are waiting on shifter bases to come back from machine shop. "They will be here this week so you should have at your door in two weeks".
After 11 weeks, call them and ask what gives. "Oh we are waiting on adapter plates, it's going to be at least 8 more weeks".
Meanwhile, another forum member calls the next day and they tell him that the guy who builds the boxes is on medical leave for a month.
So this week (12 weeks aka twice the quoted lead time), called them and asked to cancel my order. They did not ask any questions as to why or attempt to retain my business. Though they probably know why.

Not going to continue playing this game.

 

AliExpress budget LED lights. Because why not. $60 each and arrived quickly from Taiwan (about a week). Have a feeling I will need to silicone seal an area somewhere.. gonna take my chances first. They have an interesting "combo" beam pattern. A horizontal beam for flood and circular beam for spot. Makes the light look like Saturn when next to a wall.

 

The start of some serious mods over the next few months.

 

Start stockpiling the CVs!

 

Is there a chance that I might break less of them if I stick with 33s?

 

Good driving and knowing the trucks limits will keep you from popping them though. I have been running the front locker for 2 years and only popped one so far, and that was because I was bound up.

 

Also forgot to mention, my Walmart battery finally killed a cell after almost 5 years (date code was marked 9/14). Badly sulfated.

Picked up an AutoZone AGM battery. Looks like Johnson Controls makes it. We will see how it does. Popped it on the charger and eventually heard fizzling so I took it off. Holding around 13.0-13.1 volts at rest. When I got it at the store, it was at around 12.64 volts (date code 6/19). Always charge up a new battery especially if the date code is more than a month out.

 

Not truck related, but I'm going to be putting some HID retrofits into this guy. The headlight on this isn't great and the bulb tends to go out on occasion, usually fixed by smacking the headlight. That will change soon.

 

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Next step, bumper fitment. Then a little flap disc action, paint, followed by edge guard. Then it'll be out of sight.

 

thanks to @Kerleyfries for putting this together!