Ok belt is off, A/C clutch or bearing pulley problem?

BoxOnRox · 12-11-2007, 01:00 PM

Alright so my A/C compressor was smoking:

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/smoking-c-compressor-490934/

I went ahead and removed the belt and can definately see there's a problem, I'm just not sure exactly what it is. When I try and rotate the compressor part itself, it seems the resistance is compression and not friction, which I've been told means the compressor is most likely fine.

Now when I went to just rotate the exterior pulley, it just wobbles around loose. It feels just like a ring sitting on the compressor pulley that I almost wants to come off. Nothing feels like it's holding the freewheeling pulley on so it stays straight in line or anything. I'm not sure if this is normal, but it sure doesn't feel like it.

Does this sound like it's a pulley bearing issue or an A/C clutch? I assume it's the pulley bearing since the clutch seems to be working when the engine is running. Pulley bearing failures seem relatively normal but I can't find any threads or info on changing one out.

AZ Jeff · 12-11-2007, 02:08 PM

When the belt is removed, and the compressor clutch is not energized (as would be the case with the ignition "off"), the pulley should turn smoothly and not wobble in any manner.

Since yours does, it's the pulley bearing that needs replacing. There have been some write-ups on this forum on how to do this. If you cannot find those, PM me and I can send you the pages from the FSM.