A/C clutch/comp. question
 

Hello again, My 1999 F-150, 4.6 V8, while waiting in the shop's yard for about 2 weeks to have a O2 sensor replaced developed a new problem. When the shop finally got around to do the job , when they started the truck to move it indoors the serpentine belt started smoking and ultimately broke. They checked for the problem and claimed the A/C clutch pulley was frozen. My question is it possible for the A/C clutch/pulley to become frozen independent of the A/C compressor? Also keep in mind that the A/C system had not been used because it had little/no refrigerant.

Yes, the pulley bearing failed. I had one fail when I parked at a gas station. Drove up and parked, no concerns. Came out of store to go home, engine was locked up due to seized pulley. Rode home with the driver of the AAA flatbed. Replace pulley and hub to repair.

Thank you. it's what I was thinking.

Hello again, was curious to learn if the pulley and its' bearing are separate from the actual clutch or are integral yo the clutch assy.?

The pulley and bearing is separate.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...h+pulley,13288

However, you can probably get the whole clutch assembly cheaper.

Thank you very much and yes the whole clutch assy. with the pulley is cheaper!

I've yet to see a case where the pulley needed replacing without also needing to replace the clutch hub. The coil, OTOH, isn't something I've ever had to replace. It it was bad, my preference would be to just install a new compressor that already has the clutch kit installed.

There were two types of compressors used on these trucks and probably two types of clutches? If this is true, what is the difference between the two A/C clutches?. The clutch we just removed has a pulley diameter of 5.125" and one of the clutches listed on Rock Auto has a pulley diameter of 4.5", while the other choices do not specify the pulley diameter?

Hello again, I am doing some re-thinking on this subject and would like to learn if I were to purchase a new Serpentine belt for a non- A/C equipped vehicle, could this be done with the existing belt tensioners/pulleys, etc or is a non-A/C equipped configured differently? I have never used the A/C and probably would not after spending a good deal of $$?

Pull the compressor and get one of these:

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...s+pulley,10329

Thank you!!

Hello again, Not to beat this subject to death, which I am proficient at: There is a clutch assy. made by GPD #4321288, which Rock Auto and others claim to be compatible with my 1999 F-150 4.6 XLT 4x4. The question is whether this clutch assy. will really work even though the pulley diameter is 4.5" and not 5.125" as is the OEM clutch ?

A/C clutch revisited
 

There is a clutch assy. made by GPD #4321288, which Rock Auto and others claim to be compatible with my 1999 F-150 4.6 XLT 4x4. The question is whether this clutch assy. will really work even though the pulley diameter is 4.5" and not 5.125" as is the OEM clutch ?