Shaft Seal Replacement
Tools Required
J-5403 Snap Ring Pliers
J-9553-1 O-Ring Remover
J-23128-A Seal Seat Remover/Installer
J-33011 O-Ring Installer
J-34614 Shaft Seal Protector
IMPORTANT: A shaft seal should not be replaced because a small amount of oil is found on the adjacent surface. The seal is designed to leak some oil for lubrication purposes. A shaft seal should be changed only when a large amount of sprayed oil is found and then only after actual refrigerant leakage is found by using an approved leak detection procedure. Refer to "Leak Testing the Refrigerant System".
Should a compressor shaft seal ever have to be replaced, the receiver-dryer in this system must also be removed from the vehicle. The oil in the receiver-dryer must then be drained, measured and replaced. Refer to "Discharging, Adding Oil, Evacuating, and Charging Procedures for A/C System".
Removal Procedure
1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Recover the refrigerant. Refer to "Discharging, Adding Oil, Evacuating, and Charging Procedures for A/C System".
3. Loosen and reposition the compressor in the mounting brackets.
4. Remove the clutch drive plate and hub assembly from the compressor. Refer to "Clutch Plate and Hub Assembly".
5. Use the snap ring pliers J-5403 to remove the shaft seal retaining ring.
NOTE: Any dirt or foreign material that enters the compressor may cause damage.
6. Thoroughly clean the inside of the compressor housing area surrounding the shaft, the exposed portion of the seal, the shaft itself, and the O-rings groove.
7. Fully engage the knurled tangs of the seal seat remover/installer J-23128-A into the recessed portion of the seal by turning the handle clockwise. Remove and discard the seal from the compressor with a rotating-pulling motion. The handle should be hand tightened securely. Do not use a wrench or pliers to tighten the handle.
8. Remove and discard the O-rings from the compressor neck using the O-rings remover J-9553-1.
9. Thoroughly clean the seal O-rings groove in the compressor housing.
10. Inspect the shaft and the inside of the compressor housing neck for dirt or foreign material. These parts must be perfectly clean before installing any new parts.
Installation Procedure
NOTE: Seals must not be reused. Always use a new specification service seal kit. Be sure that the seal to be installed is not scratched or damaged in any way. The seal must be free of lint and dirt that may damage the seal surface or prevent proper sealing.
1. Dip the new seal O-rings in clean polyalkaline glycol (PAG) refrigerant oil and assemble the O-rings onto the O-rings installer J-33011.
2. Insert the O-rings installer J-33011 into the compressor neck until the installer "bottoms". Lower the move-able slide of the O-rings installer J-33011 to release the O-rings into the seal O-rings lower groove. (The top groove of the compressor neck is for the shaft seal retainer ring.) Rotate the installer to seat the O-rings and then remove the installer.
3. Attach the shaft lip seal to the seal seat remover/installer J-23128-A. Dip the seal in clean PAG oil.
4. Install the shaft seal protector J-34614 in the seal. Place it over the shaft and push the seal into place with a rotary motion.
5. Use the snap ring pliers J-5403 to install the shaft seal retaining ring with its fiat side against the seal.
6. Remove any excess oil around the shaft and the inside of the compressor housing neck.
7. Install the clutch plate and hub assembly. Refer to "Clutch Plate and Hub Assembly".
8. Reposition the compressor in its mounting.
9. Adjust the tension on the serpentine accessory drive belt.
10. Connect the negative battery cable.
11. Evacuate and recharge the A/C system. Refer to "Discharging, Adding Oil, Evacuating, and Charging Procedures for A/C System".
12. Perform a leak test of the system. Refer to "Leak Testing the Refrigerant System".