My a/c compressor is dying a loud death

[Darkwolf]

It has been noisy for at least a year now but it is getting pretty bad now. The squealing is worse when the a/c is off if that matters. Just wondering if it I can get away with just replacing a bearing and or clutch and not having to discharge the system. Never messed with a compressor before so I know nothing about them.

[raccoon]

I would try that, your logic that its louder when off is sound.

worst case you could just remove the belt,

[GLHSDAN]

Maybe it's time for an AC delete bracket

[x.Gen]

pull the belt immediately. try spinning the pulley, if it's dragging and noisy, the clutch is shot (leave the belt off). what I've seen happen is the bearing in the clutch will go and then slowly disintegrate (the constant noise when off is usually a partially frozen bearing in the clutch). sometimes you can get away with just a clutch, if you've been driving with it like that for a year there's a very good chance you need the compressor also. I had this happen on a car with a serpentine belt, clutch eventually froze and snapped the belt, leaving me waiting for AAA to get it back home to work on. did just the clutch, and a couple months later the compressor froze and took the new clutch out with it. the dummy pulley is a great solution if you have a serpentine belt and don't have the time to fix it right.

most expert techs will tell you that you are lucky to get 5 years out of a system without complete overhaul. I think that's a little aggressive, depending on driving conditions, but not far off for the usual daily driver. it isn't as hard as you think with the right tools - don't try and just do a recharge and waste the refrigerant, or your time. Autozone sells an instructional DVD, if I remember I think interdynamics ("Q" products) has plenty of how-to and maybe a couple videos on their site. couple of a/c forums out there that will get you up to speed. worst thing to do is just leave it. even on your own, cost of tools in mind, it isn't cheap - but well worth the weekend you'll need to do it right.