AC Clutch Removal

My AC started making the most horrendous whining noise recently. Confirmed it was the AC by removing the belt. Most of my reading has suggested checking the bearing in the clutch assembly. Only trouble is that I can't get the clutch pressure plate on the front of the compressor off. Seems no one else has had this problem based on the threads I have read.

Anyone ever had this problem?

 

Use a impact and a 10mm socket I believe. There's like a washe behind it that HAS to be there too!

 

It's been a few since I had mine off. There mite be a snap ring as well.

 

Ah yes forgot about that! There's a really weird looking snap ring. It's like wavy.

 

I should have known. Taken mine off like 10x
http://www.yotatech.com/f160/how-c-your-3-4-swap-251179/

 

Thanks fellas. But my problem is the pressure plate. 10mm bolt comes out just fine and that should allow the pressure plate to slide of the shaft exposing the snap ring. My problem is the pressure plate will not come off. Am I mistaken- is the snap ring on the outside of the pressure plate?

Funny - Anthony I actually read your thread. The pressure plate is the piece you took off using the slightly larger bolt. That was my next step. Picking up a 7 or 8 mm bolt to try. The bolt that is in there is a 6mm thread.

 

Not to jump the gun but before you start tearing apart the A/C clutch, did you check the idler pulley/tensioner that is in series with the A/C belt?
That is a wayyyy more common to fail than the compressor/clutch.

 

I did not specifically check the tensioner. Any specific way to check it? It spins freely, with no notable resistance or grinding.

I checked the AC clutch and found it to be very difficult to turn by hand (the ac pulley still spun fine). I had read that it should spin freely if operating normally. I also used a stethoscope to check the alternator, power steering pump, and transmission to determine the source of the terrible whining sound.

Also - love your threads. Hope to SAS this Tacoma in the future. Have bookmarked your threads for future good use.

 

I had the same kind of issue, which I thought was the ac compressor. It turns out it was the tensioner. While there was no load on the pulley, it would spin okay. However once the belt was tightened, the bearing would give and the pulley would be cocked making the noise.

Thanks, SAS was definitely a fun project, if ever any questions feel free to ask.

 

I was going to chime in with the idler pulley bearing too.

I just recently went through that. Horrible noise, grinding, squealing, etc.

It was a $10 OEM bearing.

 

I had to replace my compressor bearing. Another member on here had a horrible noise and it was the idler bearing. Far more common. In my last compressor it would squeal for a minute or two lol

 

Alright - well I haven't done anything irreversible yet, so I will take a look at the idler pulley this evening.

If it is good, I will be trying the bolt mehtod mentioned in Anthony's yotatech posting.

Will update this evening.

 

Looking at a parts diagram - it looks like the pulley and bearing are sold as a single unit.

https://parts.camelbacktoyota.com/p...cleid=70004&diagram=8510090&diagramCallOut=17

Does this sound right?

 

id just replace the entire idler pulley

 

^x2 did the same thing.

 

No, you can get just the bearing. There are two types that fit, one is better than the other... trying to rack the old brain to remember which.

Here's a simple write up: It's the orange bearing you are replacing:

 

Here's pics of the stock one vs the new one. The new one is sealed better or doesn't use ball bearings, or something. Wish I had a part number for you. I'm searching my history to find one.

Let's see if we can see a part number from these pics









Old one that crapped out, made a ton of noise and eventually seized:

 

The part is: 6301NSE C3 bearing

It's sealed vs the stock one. And considering the pulley sits so low, water crossings, mud, rain/splash, etc - the sealed one should last longer.

 

Man I'm racking my brain but I think the snap ring is on the outside of the pulley. Mine was on the truck it's gonna be hard to see on the truck.

 

You can see the difference in the seals in this picture. The top one is what came on the truck. That little metal shield isn't as effective as the rubber seal.