[doctorcherokee]

Hello,

I have a 1998 I6 Jeep Cherokee Sport. My Jeep started making crazy belt-grinding or slipping noises, and a couple days later I took it to a reputable mechanic.

Turns out it was the A/C hub assembly or something like that came off and the mechanic told me a new hub can't be warrantied (or something like that) and that the air compressor needed to be replaced. But, anyway, it's gonna cost $800.

I don't know if I have enough time or expertise to even try to tackle a problem like this, and I need my car back, so I've gotta get it done. What do you guys know about this? Could just the hub be replaced for cheap? Is it better to just replace the whole thing? Are there any other options?

Thanks so much for any input.

[tangofox007]

Depends on exactly what the problem is. A new clutch assy costs almost as much as a complete compressor, but it can be replaced without opening the refrigeration portion of the system. If the problem is just the bearing, it can be replaced fairly easily, although finding the bearing can be a bit of a challenge for some of the later models.
But if the problem is just the bearing, there is no need to buy a new clutch, if you can find a replacement bearing.

Originally Posted by doctorcherokee

Turns out it was the A/C hub assembly or something like that came off and the mechanic told me a new hub can't be warrantied (or something like that)...

I really don't understand what that means.

[tangofox007]

Another option would be to buy a new (or reman) compressor, then transfer the entire clutch assy to you old compressor. Then you would have a spare compressor, or you could sell it without the clutch.

The shop is probably going to charge you $600 for a compressor that you could buy yourself for less than half of that amount.

[dz1087]

It's nothing you can't do as long as you don't need to get into the refrigeration.