AC Clutch Scraping

[blk95lumina]

Hello,

I have a '95 Lumina 3.1L w/ ~150Kmi.
The AC clutch scrapes against the compressor when the AC is NOT engaged and makes an annoying metal scraping sound. It is as if the clutch is not fully disengaging. It scrapes ~50% of the time while driving....some good days and some bad.

Just put in a can of 134a since it was kind of low....~30psi @ 80F. AC blows colder but this did not help the clutch scraping situation.

Any ideas how to make the clutch disengage further away from the AC compressor so it will not scrape?

Thanks.

[manicmechanix]

This was recently covered in a thread on here some where. I think the s-10 forum. You need the clutch remover tool to pull the clutch out so there is a bout .020 or thickness of a business cardclearance between the back of the clutch and where it mates to the compressor.

[manicmechanix]

I just stumbled across the the thread about the clutch scraping. It was in the S-10 forum. I don't know if you seen it yet:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...41#post5941641

[blk95lumina]

Thanks for the link!
Just checked out the thread and looks like all I need is to borrow a tool from Autozone for pulling the clutch out a bit. Mine only scrapes when the AC is OFF.

Any tips for using the clutch remover tool or is it straight forward?

Thanks.

[manicmechanix]

Your welcome. I think it's pretty straightforward. If you're trying to back out the clutch you would just thread the tool in till it bottoms out and it would push it push the clutch out. If you're trying to press the clutch in, which you aren't, you would hold the tool bolt and turn the nut portion. So the tool acts like as an installer/remover. This is how I remember them working at least, but it's been a while.

[blk95lumina]

Hello,

Well I tried out 2 different AC clutch plate pullers from Autozone. The part#s were OEM#27005 and OEM#27006. I could not get either of the pullers to thread into the clutch plate. It is possible the threads may just be too rusted on the compressor, but it really seemed like the pullers were too large in diameter anyway.

Can anyone tell me the correct part# or send me a link for the correct clutch plate puller for a '95 3.1L?

Which type of AC compressor does this car have?

Thanks.

[manicmechanix]

You should have a V5 compressor on your car. The tool you need looks like this one: http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/kdt3340.html

[Dave_R]

The compressors I have come across had some pretty rusted threads for the tool to go in easy. It wil go in, but use a lot of penetrating oil and go only a few threads, back out, go a little more, back out, etc. until the tool is fully seated.

Also, I have just "pryed" the plates apart with a large tool (like a small screwdriver) rather than mess with the tool to pull it out a little.
You have to get the gap even all the way around. I usually look for somewhere around 0.010" of a gap. (See warning below).

If you go too far, then "hammer" it back in. (Just my redneck way of doing this).

One word of warning...... Sometimes after you increase the gap (say .030) between the plates, the plates may "slip" when the AC is engaged, causing the AC not ot work well. Also, the friction (heat) of the slipping usually burns up the seals in the pump, and your getting a new pump at this point! (I have done this......)

Just something to watch for after you increase the gap.

[blk95lumina]

So after the 3rd trip I finally got the right tool.

I had to work with the rusted threads for almost an hour.

The clutch pulled out easily though. I have about 0.020" gap around about half of the clutch and about 0.040" or so around the rest. The clutch was uneven before I pulled it out b/c I could feel it scrape only in certain areas when turning it by hand.

The AC works fine and the clutch does not appear to slip.

Should I be concerned about the uneven gap?

Thanks.

[manicmechanix]

I wouldn't worry about the gap. Good to hear you got the right tool and got the clutch gap adjusted.