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A/C Clutch Replacement

OldSchoolFormula on Tue April 24, 2007 8:59 PM User is offline

Year: 1994
Make: Pontiac
Model: Trans Am
Engine Size: 350
Refrigerant Type: R134
Country of Origin: United States

Ever since my girlfriend bought her Trans Am the A/C hasn't worked. I have narrowed it down to a bad clutch. A buddy of mine handed me another compressor off a 95 Z28 parts car of his with a working clutch. If I plug it in to the harness, and turn the A/C on, the clutch engages. Anyway, I'd like to swap the clutch assembly from the parts car compressor onto the compressor on the car. First - is this even possible? Second, are there specific special tools needed to do it, or will a generic A/C clutch puller/installer be able to do it? Third, is there anything I need to be specifically aware of when doing the job? With summer rolling in, a black car, and black leather, it needs to work.

Appreciate any and all help.

Ian

Chick on Tue April 24, 2007 9:13 PM User is offlineView users profile

Check the coil for three to four ohms first. You may just need a clutch gap adjustment. An installer tool is needed for that. To change the clutch, you need the clutch plate removal tool and the installer tool and a pair of snap ring plyers. The coil is also pressed on, so be sure your old coil is bad before changing it.. That is really all that can go wrong other than a gap adjustment.. below are some pics. You can e-mail the guys at Ackits.com for prices on the tools, they are cheap enough to own ratyher than borrow..
Check coil resistence

To adjust airgap (If to wide, use the installer tool and press the hub on, but not far enough to touch. About .02 or the thickness of a business card. The tool screws onto the center shaft

To remove, use the removal tool which screws into the large threaded hole as shown below. Be sure to remove the shaft nut if there is one.. Or the shaft can break.. Hope this helps..If you need the mastercool part numbers, I can look them up for you (tools)



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Chick
Email: Chick

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Freedoms just another word for nothing left to lose

Chick on Tue April 24, 2007 9:18 PM User is offlineView users profile

Here is a pic of the clutch threads you'll be using. Remember to remove the nut on the shaft if you remove the clutch plate. It's a press fit... You can proably do it on the car, with no need to discharge the system...



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Chick
Email: Chick

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Freedoms just another word for nothing left to lose

Edited: Tue April 24, 2007 at 9:22 PM by Chick

mk378 on Tue April 24, 2007 9:31 PM User is offline

If the coil resistance checks OK, just use the installer tool to press the front plate closer to the pulley and close up the gap. If the coil is bad of course you'll have to take it all apart.

You can "borrow" both of those tools from Autozone. You have to buy them, but after the job is done, they let you return them and get all your money back.

Once the front plate is off, if you need to get to the coil you'd then remove the snap ring and then use a conventional gear puller to pull the pulley/bearing assembly off. Choose the pulley with the best bearing to reinstall, but keep it's matching front plate with it because they wear into each other.

OldSchoolFormula on Tue May 08, 2007 9:39 PM User is offline

Ha! Finally found this site again. LoL. Anyway, the coil is dead. Looking at tools, we have this http://www.ackits.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=01&Product_Code=91000-A&Category_Code=hubpullinstall , http://www.partsamerica.com/productdetail.aspx?MfrCode=FAA&MfrPartNumber=59509&CategoryCode=3569, http://www.partsamerica.com/productdetail.aspx?MfrCode=EVP&MfrPartNumber=0600&CategoryCode=3569, http://www.partsamerica.com/productdetail.aspx?MfrCode=FAA&MfrPartNumber=59502&CategoryCode=3569, and http://www.partsamerica.com/productdetail.aspx?MfrCode=FAA&MfrPartNumber=59581&CategoryCode=3569

I was wondering which tools from Kragen would be the ones I'd need as they have different part numbers. Even easier, if soemone has part numbers for the tools I'd need, that would be greatly appreciated.

OldSchoolFormula on Sun May 27, 2007 10:46 PM User is offline

Well, still haven't started on this project as I'm not sure what tools I'll need. Do I need to purchase the Master Clutch Service Set in order to change the coil on the compressor?

Cussboy on Sun May 27, 2007 11:19 PM User is offline

i'd try the free loaner tools at Autozone. If there's enough room to work, you can do this "on the car".

OldSchoolFormula on Sun May 27, 2007 11:29 PM User is offline

I just don't know if the loaner set at autozone would allow me to pull the coil off as well? I see there are different tools for it. Don't know if AZ has them. We have mostly Kragens in this area, that don't have the tools, AZ is a little drive to find out.

OldSchoolFormula on Mon May 28, 2007 5:22 AM User is offline

I'm bad at throwing up posts on this board...

Anyway, this is the list of tools autozone shows online as far as A/C.
http://www.autozone.com/in_our_stores/loan_a_tool/air_conditioning/air_conditioning.htm
None of them say anything about GM compressors? Anyone have part numbers for the tools I'll need to buy or borrow or rent? One shop has told me "I would not recomment trying to swap the clutch to another compressor and here is the reason why. The coils are pressed onto the compressor. The compressor is aluminum and the coil is hard steel. When removing the coils you'll loose material from the aluminum. When you loose material it will not hold the clutch. When cars come in with this problem I sell them a new compressor & clutch. The rebuilts are not reliable."

Truth, or does he just want to sell me a new compressor?

Chick on Mon May 28, 2007 5:57 AM User is offlineView users profile

You can buy a better compressor for that car. Check out the Seltec clone for just over $200.00 brand new. The coil is pressed on, but I change them all the time with no problem. The coil does not move. But you do need to be sure it's on all the way. Use the old one to tap it on after cleaning the nose it sits on. The only tools you need are the GM clutch tools as shown in the pics above. The coil can come off by using a large screw driver or crow bar to gently "walk" it off..Hope this helps..

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Chick
Email: Chick

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Freedoms just another word for nothing left to lose

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