Advice on AC clutch vs entire unit.

Vova585 · Post by **Vova585** » 24 Apr 2025, 13:06

Need your advice mates.
2001 v70xc 308k
1 year ago on hot summer days ac clutch started to fail. Leaving me with periods of no ac until the system will cool a little at which point it will engage again. I took the front plate off and discovered decent size grooves from wear and tear. I reshimmed it to the best of my abilities based on the wear present. Currently I am starting to worry that with warmer days upon us it will start happening again. I am debating buying either clutch kit from ProPartsSweden($180) vs oem clutch kit ($360) vs new compressor Behr ($400+ likely dryer $40+ labor to install $250?+ recharge $150?). Vs starting to drive my 2016xc70(garage queen)
I am leaning towards clutch replacement but not sure which one to pick. Anyone has any words if advice for or against PRoParts vs Oem vs other brand?
Thank you.

jrschwit · Post by **jrschwit** » 24 Apr 2025, 15:53

My '02 V70 which has spent most of its 280K miles in the hot, humid Carolinas developed the same problem several years ago. I repaired it temporarily using a hack learned here that involved using thin wire/zip ties to "shim" the clutch spring to narrow the gap between the clutch faces. It's worked fine for more than 50K miles.

Since then I've replaced the AC clutch bearing on two early P2 V70s which process involved removing the outer clutch plate. I found one or more thin shim washers which had been installed at the factory to set the clutch gap. In each case, I removed one or both shims to reduce the gap. Both had noticeable grooving like you describe. I read somewhere the min/max gap specs, I simply strive for as thin a gap as I can and not risk contact when the clutch is disengaged. If I find the gap still too large with all the shims removed, I will either file a bit off the end of the compressor shaft or counterbore the female clutch socket slightly deeper (I'm fortunate to have a lathe capable of such a job).

While I have no personal experience with clutch kits, I would not want to take the chance or the expense. Just my preference.
Jim

Post by **cn90** » 24 Apr 2025, 16:13

At that mileage, you may as well go for a new AC compressor. While I am not a big fan of Chinese stuff, the review on Nissens AC compressor (made in China) is surprisingly good for $200. While I don't have a DIY for P2, I wrote a detail DIY for my 1998 528i on bimmerfest (info on how to draw vacuum, where to rent vacuum pump for free is in that thread)...

Of course you can install an original Volvo unit.

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Vova585 · Post by **Vova585** » 24 Apr 2025, 16:57

I saw that Nissens unit..not sure about Chineesium quality plus that would involve paying someone to change it for me(I don't want to release refrigerant into atmosphere). Given wear groves it is hard to imagine the unit will be able to have good friction/grip similarly to the worn brake rotor. Probably will get UV light to see if there is any leaks on the compressor which might swing me for entire unit. However still would like to hear if anyone replaced just clutch assembly with good success longterm

Post by **cn90** » 24 Apr 2025, 17:40

At 308K...it is past the useful life of an AC compressor...

Post by **Krons** » 24 Apr 2025, 18:10

Vova585 wrote: ↑24 Apr 2025, 13:06 Need your advice mates.
2001 v70xc 308k
1 year ago on hot summer days ac clutch started to fail. Leaving me with periods of no ac until the system will cool a little at which point it will engage again. I took the front plate off and discovered decent size grooves from wear and tear. I reshimmed it to the best of my abilities based on the wear present. Currently I am starting to worry that with warmer days upon us it will start happening again. I am debating buying either clutch kit from ProPartsSweden($180) vs oem clutch kit ($360) vs new compressor Behr ($400+ likely dryer $40+ labor to install $250?+ recharge $150?). Vs starting to drive my 2016xc70(garage queen)
I am leaning towards clutch replacement but not sure which one to pick. Anyone has any words if advice for or against PRoParts vs Oem vs other brand?
Thank you.

Grooves shouldn’t matter, are you sure you shimmed it tight enough? I would avoid the ProParts seems most of their stuff is low quality.

Vova585 · Post by **Vova585** » 24 Apr 2025, 19:08

Krons wrote: ↑24 Apr 2025, 18:10
Vova585 wrote: ↑24 Apr 2025, 13:06 Need your advice mates.
2001 v70xc 308k
1 year ago on hot summer days ac clutch started to fail. Leaving me with periods of no ac until the system will cool a little at which point it will engage again. I took the front plate off and discovered decent size grooves from wear and tear. I reshimmed it to the best of my abilities based on the wear present. Currently I am starting to worry that with warmer days upon us it will start happening again. I am debating buying either clutch kit from ProPartsSweden($180) vs oem clutch kit ($360) vs new compressor Behr ($400+ likely dryer $40+ labor to install $250?+ recharge $150?). Vs starting to drive my 2016xc70(garage queen)
I am leaning towards clutch replacement but not sure which one to pick. Anyone has any words if advice for or against PRoParts vs Oem vs other brand?
Thank you.
Grooves shouldn’t matter, are you sure you shimmed it tight enough? I would avoid the ProParts seems most of their stuff is low quality.

I have hard time accepting the fact that grooves don't matter. In order to achieve reliable connection between pulley and front plate there should be equally gap all around. With wear grooves on the mating surface of the front plate such gap would vary around based on wear.(once again analogy with worn brake rotor) I tried to smooth them a little on the stone, but it is far from perfect. I am skeptical about ProParts as well(even though it seems they are the oem for steering shaft and many other parts), that's why I am asking for suggestion from people that hopefully tried this aproach.

Post by **DavidE7** » 24 Apr 2025, 21:27

Have you tried the factory shim kit for adjusting the gap to the correct gap?
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... o-31332161
I have adjusted several high mileage AC clutches to the 0.3mm feeler gauge gap and replaced the idler bearing while I was doing the work. The instructions and parts from FCP brought my 2001 V70 and 2004 XC70 slipping compressor clutches back to life.

Getting access to the P2 compressor follows these steps:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/blog/how-to-rep ... ssis-volvo

Doing the clutch shim using the factory spacers instead of bread bag clips:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/blog/how-to-fix ... a-volvo-p1

Unfortunately the AC compressor clutch is hard to reach on P2 Volvos.

Vova585 · Post by **Vova585** » 24 Apr 2025, 21:51

DavidE7 wrote: ↑24 Apr 2025, 21:27 Have you tried the factory shim kit for adjusting the gap to the correct gap?
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... o-31332161
I have adjusted several high mileage AC clutches to the 0.3mm feeler gauge gap and replaced the idler bearing while I was doing the work. The instructions and parts from FCP brought my 2001 V70 and 2004 XC70 slipping compressor clutches back to life.

Getting access to the P2 compressor follows these steps:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/blog/how-to-rep ... ssis-volvo

Doing the clutch shim using the factory spacers instead of bread bag clips:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/blog/how-to-fix ... a-volvo-p1

Unfortunately the AC compressor clutch is hard to reach on P2 Volvos.

Thank you David for your input. I did shimming last year but it was not 100% during hot days. I am blaming worn front plate with developed groves vs weak coil. That's why I am leaning towards just replacing the clutch assembly and have reliable AC. (I don't want to give my wife a pleasure to ridicule my volvo addiction when on a hot day AC fails and she is with me in a car. It will go like" you told me 4 years ago that this car dnr/dni and we need to buy 2016xc70 cuz they don't make them anymore and it sits in garage now".)