possible DIY ac compressor rebuild?

[team]

I think i may have a small leak around my ac compressor seals (this is the only place i can find my uv dye at, small drops though). My system works fine but i have to charge it about 1 to 2 times a year. I see where advance auto has a seal kit for like 10 bucks and they sell some bearings for it. So before i go drop big bucks for a new compressor, i was wondering if i could just try the seal kit for 10 and i wouldn't be losing to much. Has anybody ever taken the ac compressor apart? What is needed and how involved is it?

 

[96eb96]

I think i may have a small leak around my ac compressor seals (this is the only place i can find my uv dye at, small drops though). My system works fine but i have to charge it about 1 to 2 times a year. I see where advance auto has a seal kit for like 10 bucks and they sell some bearings for it. So before i go drop big bucks for a new compressor, i was wondering if i could just try the seal kit for 10 and i wouldn't be losing to much. Has anybody ever taken the ac compressor apart? What is needed and how involved is it?

with all respect to this forum, the place to go for specialized expert A/C (ONLY)advice is here..
http://www.autoacforum.com/categories.cfm?catid=2


here he has exploded A/C diagrams.
http://www.autoacforum.com/messageview.cfm?catid=25&threadid=16964

 

[CmdrPopNFresh]

is that seal kit your talking about the front seal? those leak alot and are pretty easy to replace. you just remove that 8mm bolt in the center of the clutch and pull out the old seal and put the new one in with the included plastic sleeve. of course youll have to evac your ac first then recharge it......assuming thats where your leak is coming from

 

[team]

is that seal kit your talking about the front seal? those leak alot and are pretty easy to replace. you just remove that 8mm bolt in the center of the clutch and pull out the old seal and put the new one in with the included plastic sleeve. of course youll have to evac your ac first then recharge it......assuming thats where your leak is coming from

yes, that is where it looks like it is coming from. do i need a clutch removal tool?

 

[96eb96]

yes, that is where it looks like it is coming from. do i need a clutch removal tool?

heh..thought you meant the compressor body half seals

 

[Hoppy]

I had a leak between the body halves on my 92 Ex a few years ago. It came apart easily enough and I bought a new O-ring for the body halves. I went to Ford and got the new seals for the hoses, but they did not sell any parts for the compressor, only the entire compressor. I went to Niagara Rubber supply with the old compressor's O-ring, matched it up to what they had, installed it and recharged the system and it lasted up until, and after I sold the ol' girl.

Not a hard job neither, and it was pretty neat to see how it works. It is like a 10 cylinder double acting type of pump. Really cool how it works.

 

[CmdrPopNFresh]

yes, that is where it looks like it is coming from. do i need a clutch removal tool?

nope. just pull that 8mm bolt out of the front and the clutch comes out with no tools...just pull on it. then there is a dust gaurd type of thing in there that needs to be pulled out(it looks like its made of wool or something) then get in there with two little picks or small screwdrivers and pull out the seal. then put the new seal in....dust gaurd and put the clutch back in. hope that helps

 

[Hoppy]

Keep in mind, referencing my old 92 ex, the 8mm bolt is reverse thread. Be Careful