So I have the whole passenger side of my car apart so that I can reach my compressor and the bad clutch it has. My question is simple: Pull the whole compressor or just pull the clutch?

I originally started a thread awhile ago and came to the conclusion that I was just going to pull the clutch, but now that I'm elbow deep, I don't know if there is enough room. If the clutch is a press fit clutch, then I know I won't be able to fit a clutch puller down there.

I have a used unit with a working clutch and all so pulling it and replacing it would be easier, but then I would have to pull a vacuum and recharge my system which would add to the difficulty.

 

UPDATE: To help others in the same boat as me, I discovered something. You CANNOT pull the compressor clutch without great risk of damaging the compressor. Essentially, to replace the clutch, you have to pull the compressor which means that you have to evacuate and vacuum the system.

 

i have the same problem there is noise coming from the a.c compressor. on further notice i can see the the clutch is moving and causing a rattling noise. my question is
can you just replace the clutch or do you have to buy a new compressor

 

its better to replace the whole thing clutch and all

 

thanks i just purchase a new a c compressor on ebay for $160

 

I don't think you can find just a clutch. I would say do the whole compressor. You have it off, and it is possible that that the clutch went out due to a bad compressor.

 

helio, I think you and I both just bought the same compressor off of ebay on sale for $160. Did you buy the four seasons model? I just installed a used compressor that I was hoping was going to just get the job done, but the clutch is frozen up and about to fail just like my old one.