95 Passport hamonic balancer removal

Hello,
I have a 1995 Passport that was squealing like a pig as soon as the AC was turned on...I assumed (incorrectly) that the AC compressor was going bad, so I had the AC system evacuated...changed the compressor and had the AC system recharged...
As soon as the compressor was turned on it was evident that the “Pig” was still in there. $600 later :banghead:…
After looking closer I see that the Crankshaft Pulley (also called a Harmonic Balancer and or Vibration Damper…:eek7: I now know) is spinning on itself with the additional torque of the compressor being on.
So now I am about to attempt a harmonic balancer change out, and I see from other posts that getting the bolt to break free is a challenge….
It seems the best success method is to lodge the breaker bar against the frame and bump the engine over.
Just a couple of questions before I possibly do unwanted damage…
I understand that the engine turns clockwise (when viewing from the front of the truck)…which way does the bolt turn to loosen?
…is it reverse threads thus making it clockwise to loosen?
Also is the socket needed for the bolt a 24mm (same as a second gen 3.2L) ?
Thanks for any info on the subject

the bolt is clockwise to tighten; counter clockwise to loosen.

//bc

If your facing the vehicle you want the breaker to be against the frame on the right hand (driver) side. I bumped mine over like that to do a timing belt/tensioner/water pump. I also rented the pulley puller from AutoZone. If you do that make sure you have an adapter on the end to PREVENT STRIPPING THE THREADS ON THE CRANK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Job Done!
Thanks to you guys here, that is... I would have never thought to use the starter to break the pulley bolt free,...and I am sure I would have been there all day fightin with it.
One thing though... I didn’t put the breaker bar on the driver’s side (like suggested) cause it would have been up against my steering rack and not the frame (maybe cuz I have 6” of lift)…
Instead I rested it up against the bottom of the passenger's side frame...and I used some rubber tape to hold it in place in an attempt not to break any of my tools. It was definitely a little nerve-racking bumping the engine over with my setup installed and strapped to the frame… and the noise was not pleasant sounding but when I got back up to the front of the truck …The results were very pleasing….Nothing was broke accept the bolts will power…The breaker bar was just the way I put it and inside the socket was the bolt that was all loosey goosey. The rest of the job went very smoothly.
Thanks again to all you who take the time to post your experience here.

The first time I tried it, on my VW Jetta, I let the starter engage for just an instant. I walked around to the passenger side of the car hoping nothing broke and incredulous that the bolt had broken free. I can't explain how happy I was to back the bolt the rest of the way out with my fingers! Unfortunately I didn't know about this trick when I worked on the Rodeo.