A/C Pulley Noise

Topic: A/C Pulley Noise (Read 1228 times) previous topic - next topic

A/C Pulley Noise

August 04, 2014, 11:01:20 PM

On the way home from work today I started getting a knocking/rattling sound consistent with RPMs. I take the belt off and start the car, no noise. I spin the A/C pulley and it's making noise as I spin it by hand. The noise is worse when the compressor isn't engaged and my A/C still works great.

Is there a bearing that I can replace or the pulley itself? I'm not too experienced with A/C stuff. I want to keep this as cheap a replacement as possible. Lol

Thanks!

A/C Pulley Noise

Reply #1 – August 05, 2014, 12:11:34 AM

Ill send you mine for a decent price if you'd like.

A/C Pulley Noise

Reply #2 – August 05, 2014, 04:34:53 AM

You can replace the pulley (aka the hub) separately, but since it is also the surface the clutch disc engages to, I'd recommend also replacing the disc. Neither will require you to open the system, so no evac and charging will be necessary.

A/C Pulley Noise

Reply #3 – August 05, 2014, 07:29:26 AM

No one seems to sell just the pulley, it's either the whole compressor or the clutch. Is this a used only part if I don't want to buy the whole clutch?

Does it sound like I can just get away with a new pulley since it's just noisy and working fine?

Thanks.

A/C Pulley Noise

Reply #4 – August 05, 2014, 07:34:02 AM

Seems that Autozone will sell you just the bearing. If you know someone with a press, or at least a seal/race installer, you can swap out just the bearing. Otherwise replacing the hub and not the disc, is like replacing your brake rotors and keeping the old half-worn pads.

A/C Pulley Noise

Reply #5 – August 05, 2014, 09:18:44 AM

One other question. I'm going to be doing a new clutch kit instead since we're taking it apart anyway. Everything seems to list for pre 3/86 and of course my car has a date of 4/86. Can I just look under an '87 for the AC parts or was there another change from later '86 cars to '87?

I'm also considering this as a temporary solution until next summer: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/rnb-34163

Will this fit my 4/86 T-Bird? It only lists until 1986, were the compressor bolt holes different between '86 and '87?

Thanks.

A/C Pulley Noise

Reply #6 – August 07, 2014, 09:15:47 PM

Well I doubt it will get much hotter here until next summer and it's not my DD anyway, so I had my friend vacuum the system and we put that Dorman bypass pulley on until next year. The system was working great with no leaks. So next year I'll just throw a new compressor on.

For future reference, that bypass pulley works but the hardware sucks. We had to put regular bolts through with lock washers to attach it.