A/C Compressor Testing and Rebuilds?

[turbo39151]

Wondering if there is a known way to test an a/c compressor off of the car... (I have a few sitting on the bench and wanted to test them)

Also, is there a guide or rebuild kit to rebuild a stock a/c compressor or are folks stuck replacing the compressors if they leak?

 

[coach]

Subscribed...same questions

 

[Morbid]

You can check out Arizona Mobile Air (http://www.ackits.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=01&Category_Code=Buick85Regal3-8) for parts.
Or even any parts store if you know what your looking for.

They have a web board over on that site too where you can ask q's. IIRC there were a couple of threads over there where guys were bench testing compressors.
I think you need a good gauge set at least for that.

The factory service manual has a section on how to rebuild the R-4 AC compressor, but I'm guessing you don't have it otherwise you wouldn't ask.
I'd scan it and post it up but just upgraded to windows 7 and don't have a compatible scanner yet.

There are some special tools (fixtures and such) you need to take apart the R-4 Air compressor.

 

[turbo39151]

They have lots of gaskets and so forth, which is promising, but it's not specific enough. I need to go and check all my books... I was hoping that there might be an a/c expert floating around here....

 

[Morbid]

Mostly all that's inside of the Compressor is gasket's and rings. Again rebuilding and bench testing compressor's and clutches will require some special tools and knowledge
You can do a search and find some info on this board, but most will do what the shops do and that's replace the entire part (Compressor, Clutch, Condenser, whatever).
That's after doing the diagnostics to determine where the problem is.

I have the Chilton books as well as the FSM. The Chilton books don't cover taking down the compressor and rebuilding it. Just removing it and testing it.
Did you try the forum http://www.autoacforum.com/

 

[Nick Micale]

The original R-4 compressors were not very good when they were built over 25 years ago, and Delco has revised and upgraded them about 4 times over the past decades. The current ones are much different in design, construction and reliability

The fitment of the ends into the case was a major sealing issue, and many compressors were trashed because of that problem which made them unusable.

Since our summer temp and continuous use generated LOTS of head pressure this was a major cause of failure here.

I have installed hundreds of GN compressors, and will only use new ones. The one reman a customer had me install years ago was the only one I ever used, and it did not last the summer.

The new compressors I use have a 2 year warranty, the remans are for 90 days, that should tell the story.