AC Clutch Wobble

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Jun 7, 2007 | 11:01 PM

ssanto

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 76

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AC Clutch Wobble

Hi,

I've got a 1997 F-150 with 190,000 miles on it. I replaced the AC compressor (just the compressor not the clutch) about 70,000 miles ago.

Last week I started hearing a bad grinding sound when the AC was running. I got around to looking at it a couple days ago and noticed that it was the clutch. The bearings were going out and it was wobbling all over when it was running.

I replaced the clutch with a new one and the noise went away but I noticed that it still had a slight wobble to it. When the clutch is disengaged, the belt spins perfectly straight. Only when the clutch is on does it wobble a slight bit.

Today I heard a bit of faint grinding from the AC and it went away when I turned it off. The noise was gone when I turned it back on.

So my question is... Why is the new clutch wobbling? I'm worried that the excessive wobble from the old clutch messed up the bearings in the compressor. And now the compressor is causing a wobble on the new clutch. Does that make sense? I'm hoping thats not the case.

Shouldn't the new clutch spin wobble-free since its on its own bearings?

Thanks,
Sal

Jun 8, 2007 | 11:20 AM

lsrx101

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Feb 2006

Posts: 1,776

Likes: 5

From: Lorain County, Ohio

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssanto

The heat and runout from the failed bearing probably damaged the compressor shaft and/or the compressor shaft bearing. If you're hearing noise with it running, the compressor is probably on it's way out.
Don't try to milk the last few days out of a failing compressor. If it starts shedding parts into the system, the repair cost starts going up drastically. Replace the compressor now, even though the AC is still "working".