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The a/c compressor pulley on my C6 is squeaking like a banshee (ok, maybe I don't know what a banshee squeak is like, but this thing is sure loud!). I don't really want to mess with dropping the front crossmember, and am wondering if anyone has had experience with removing one from the top. It looks like I would have to remove the belt tensioners and the water pump in order to get it out. Thoughts?
The a/c compressor pulley on my C6 is squeaking like a banshee (ok, maybe I don't know what a banshee squeak is like, but this thing is sure loud!). I don't really want to mess with dropping the front crossmember, and am wondering if anyone has had experience with removing one from the top. It looks like I would have to remove the belt tensioners and the water pump in order to get it out. Thoughts?
I'm about to do the same compressor swap....(I have a centrifugal blower) and I was told it can be removed through the front w/o dropping the cradle....but is VERY tight
Yes, and this was one of the reasons that after developing a lifter problem and the A/C crapped out , at 175,000 miles , I replaced then engine. It all happened at about the same time.
I had to replace the clutch on mine, so that was why I removed it.. you don't have to remove it to get the compressor off thankfully
It was a royal pain to get off.. It's just a snap ring or two that hold it together but they are really tough to get to. With the correct snap ring pliers that are angled perfectly it probably wouldn't be so bad.. but I wasn't that lucky
The squeaking noise on mine occurs even with the a/c turned off. Do you think that my problem is actually a bearing in the clutch and not the compressor itself? Sure would be simpler to invest in a snap ring pliers and just replace the pulley/clutch! Thanks for your help on this!
Originally Posted by schpenxel
I had to replace the clutch on mine, so that was why I removed it.. you don't have to remove it to get the compressor off thankfully
It was a royal pain to get off.. It's just a snap ring or two that hold it together but they are really tough to get to. With the correct snap ring pliers that are angled perfectly it probably wouldn't be so bad.. but I wasn't that lucky
The squeaking noise on mine occurs even with the a/c turned off. Do you think that my problem is actually a bearing in the clutch and not the compressor itself? Sure would be simpler to invest in a snap ring pliers and just replace the pulley/clutch! Thanks for your help on this!
I am in a similar situation. ...mine was working great intermittently until clutch came off the front of the compressor. So I think I'm going to just try a new clutch ($60) first....as the system is still fully charged/free spinnig and not making any noise at this time
Last edited by C U IN REARVEIW; 02-01-2016 at 03:06 PM.
Nope, not the tensioner pulley. I replaced that a year ago. It's definitely the compressor clutch/pulley. I can stop the squeak (for a few mins) by spraying silicon into the back end of the pulley. I've read other posts that state that the compressor must be removed in order to remove the clutch. Mine looks a lot different than the one in your picture and I noticed that I can easily wiggle the front half of it. Oh well, might as well bite the bullet and install a new compressor & clutch.
Originally Posted by schpenxel
Are you sure it isn't just the bearing in the tensioner pulley?
Yeah I'd throw a new compressor on it while I was at it.. I really regret not doing the whole compressor when I did mine. My compressor is rattling now so I'm going to have to do the whole job over again.
A brand new ZR1 AC Delco one is $245 delivered on Amazon. It has a 6 rib pulley but that will work work fine on 4 rib, and you have a 6 rib available if you ever need it
Already ordered the Denso OEM on E-Bay for $100 more, so you're safe for the time being. Thanks a bunch for all of your advice. Now it's time to skin some knuckles!
Originally Posted by schpenxel
Yeah I'd throw a new compressor on it while I was at it.. I really regret not doing the whole compressor when I did mine. My compressor is rattling now so I'm going to have to do the whole job over again.
A brand new ZR1 AC Delco one is $245 delivered on Amazon. It has a 6 rib pulley but that will work work fine on 4 rib, and you have a 6 rib available if you ever need it
Nope, not the tensioner pulley. I replaced that a year ago. It's definitely the compressor clutch/pulley. I can stop the squeak (for a few mins) by spraying silicon into the back end of the pulley. I've read other posts that state that the compressor must be removed in order to remove the clutch. Mine looks a lot different than the one in your picture and I noticed that I can easily wiggle the front half of it. Oh well, might as well bite the bullet and install a new compressor & clutch.
If the AC compressor clutch pulley fell off - the od of the fit on the nose of the compressor is probably tore up.
Try using gap filling bushing adhesive with a new AC compressor clutch. The car in the pictures has headers and you will not get the compressor out if you have stock exhaust manifolds.
01-31-2016, 02:06 PM
a/c compressor replacement
