AC Compressor Clutch

[Billy Mild]

Has anyone looked into replacing just the AC Compressor Clutch before? My AC works fine, but makes a ton of noise while the compressor is running and cooling. It makes a horrible clicking sound from time to time and varies with RPM. I think the clutch is going out honestly. I hate to crack the whole system open when it still has R-12 and works fine.

[A26B]

I've never been able to find an AC Compressor clutch for the LT5. It is unique to the ZR-1. I tried to have them manufactured a few years ago & ran into insurmountable problems.
Let me know if you find a source, but beware of false compatibility


Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry

[Bruce]

Ive just been down this road this week in fact. You mention the AC Compressor 'clutch'.

I am assuming you mean the part that is magnetically attracted to the belt driven pulley that enables the compressor to work?

I found parts so damn easy to get, had them in my hand overnight. My compressor is just a standard Denso 10PA unit which is used on many other vehicles.

[Billy Mild]

I believe it to be the AC Compressor Clutch. The AC works great, just makes a ton noise once in a while.

[Bruce]

Well the 'clutch' is actually a cast iron ring that is attracted to the driven pulley, by magnetism - there is a electromagnetic coil in behind the driven pulley that 'pulls' the compressor drive ring against the driven pulley to drive the internals of the AC compressor. Mine was doing the same, making a hell of a noise every now and then.

What happened to mine was the double bearing race that supports the driven pulley, collapsed. The ball bearings fell out of the race and the inside of the driven pulley ran metal to metal against the electromagnet coil and severely overheated all and sundry connected to it. It got so hot, the driven pulley turned blue. The smoke coming out of my bonnet was the melted shelack off the magnets coil windings.

Knowing now what I know about the 'sound' etc, I would have pulled the driven pulley off sooner and replaced the bearing race. But it failed just before I got around to it.

[G8nightman]

Originally Posted by Bruce

Well the 'clutch' is actually a cast iron ring that is attracted to the driven pulley, by magnetism - there is a electromagnetic coil in behind the driven pulley that 'pulls' the compressor drive ring against the driven pulley to drive the internals of the AC compressor. Mine was doing the same, making a hell of a noise every now and then.

What happened to mine was the double bearing race that supports the driven pulley, collapsed. The ball bearings fell out of the race and the inside of the driven pulley ran metal to metal against the electromagnet coil and severely overheated all and sundry connected to it. It got so hot, the driven pulley turned blue. The smoke coming out of my bonnet was the melted shelack off the magnets coil windings.

Knowing now what I know about the 'sound' etc, I would have pulled the driven pulley off sooner and replaced the bearing race. But it failed just before I got around to it.

Please list part #'s qand source I replaced my compressor because could find the part's new compressor was $400 from denso.

[Bruce]

Originally Posted by G8nightman

Please list part #'s qand source I replaced my compressor because could find the part's new compressor was $400 from denso.

I just looked online at some local suppliers and here are a few links to stuff that are the same.

http://www.totalair.co.nz/product/cl...assemblies/45/

That one above looks identical to mine.

Check out these individual parts, they are some of the ones I got to replace mine with, the bearing and the magnetic coil

http://www.autoair.co.nz/shop/Shop+b...SOR+PARTS.html

Here is the clutch plate
http://www.autoair.co.nz/shop/Shop+b...A+CLA7000.html

This company above has just sold all their spare parts to a business called "Cool Drive" in Auckland New Zealand, I just phoned them and within 12 hours had all the new parts.

[Z51JEFF]

Hi Bruce,I sent you an email.

[GOLDCYLON]

Originally Posted by Bruce

Well the 'clutch' is actually a cast iron ring that is attracted to the driven pulley, by magnetism - there is a electromagnetic coil in behind the driven pulley that 'pulls' the compressor drive ring against the driven pulley to drive the internals of the AC compressor. Mine was doing the same, making a hell of a noise every now and then.

What happened to mine was the double bearing race that supports the driven pulley, collapsed. The ball bearings fell out of the race and the inside of the driven pulley ran metal to metal against the electromagnet coil and severely overheated all and sundry connected to it. It got so hot, the driven pulley turned blue. The smoke coming out of my bonnet was the melted shelack off the magnets coil windings.

Knowing now what I know about the 'sound' etc, I would have pulled the driven pulley off sooner and replaced the bearing race. But it failed just before I got around to it.

What did it sound like ?

[Bruce]

Originally Posted by GOLDCYLON

What did it sound like ?

It was a rumbling, dry bearing sound. It would come and go .. then it went!

Im trying to think of what might sound similar but cant think of anything. If you have access to a bad alternator for instance, with buggered bearings, give that a spin and you will know the sound.