How difficult is it to rebuild an A/C Compressor. I have the Fiero Shop manual with plenty of illustrations and 2 used A/C compressors.

Any suggestions.

John MacHaffie

Actual rebuild is way beyond most people. There's a whole bunch of things that aren't in the book. It's easily as delicate and detailed work as rebuilding the whole engine.

There are some things you can do. The main shaft seal is available. so are the pressure switches and relief valves. Some clutch parts are also available but are about as expencive as buying a whole compressor.

if you have the fiero service manual, it shows you how to do it, but there is several special tools that you need to have.
Jc whitney sells some of them, not all.

Well- I hate going against what everyone else says...but this time, Im compelled to do so; rebuilding the compressor is a snap. There arent that many parts in it. All the bearings and o-rings are easily found. You might wish you had a 3rd hand while you try to keep the pistons and bearings on the wobble plate, tho'.

If moisture got in it...be prepared to polish the bores and reed-type valves, and scrape out the goo. A moto-tool will do.

As for tools, the only "special tools" you'll need are the clutch removal and reinstall tools. Snap-on has 'em and they aint that expensive. $12 each. Autozone will even lend them to you.

Buy a can of POE oil, and keep it all lubed up while you re-assemble it; it'll slide together nicely. Lube the o-rings and use a rubber mallet when tapping the body sections together.

In the end...I guestimate that I spent about $20 for seals, bearings and oil- a rebuilt unit at the part store would have been $200. Cha-ching!

[This message has been edited by Linx (edited 09-04-2000).]

Is there a link (URL) anyway that provides some more hints & tips on doing a rebuild yourself?

John

I thought about getting a used compressor from the junkyard for the car im selling, celebrity wagon. Its only 35 bucks compared to 200 for a new one.

the fiero service manual tells how to do it, try searching the web for a rebuild, i think i had trouble finding something last time, because mine needs a new cylinder seal.

Already got 2 A/C compressors. One used one which I got on Ebay and 1 frozen one still in my 86 GT.

Will try to rebuild both units myself as It appears it can be done.

Any other suggestions per the rebuild operation.

Thanks,

John MacHaffie

Yeah- the compressor body is comprised of 3 sections...theyve got index marks for alignment when you reassemble it. Notice that the front third isnt aligned like you'd expect; it's offset by 120 degrees (or thereabouts) so that the front and rear mounting holes line up. I didnt realize this until after I'd assembled it and tried to snake it up under the car and past the exhaust. Ugh! That thing is heavy...I hadta take it down and back to the bench to disassemble it again.

Mark the sections for alignment before you take it apart.

Dont use anything other than POE ($7, 6oz, Autozone) to lube the parts; the pistons have non-metallic rings that seize instantly when oil gets on them. When reassembled, the compressor will turn easily and even eject POE thru the ports.

Pay attention to the orientation of the front seal when you remove it. Put it in backwards and it will...well..you get the idea.