AC Clutch Tie Wrap Job Follow-up

Post by **Eddystone** » 04 Jul 2020, 14:54

I'm trying to decide whether to buy into this bread clip and tierap conspiracy or tell the REAL TRUTH. The real truth is by the time you've done the third one, it's easy peasy. The first one is pure hell. I notice some people did six. I did three. Some parts of the job need lady hands and some parts require man hands. It's a good second date activity. When I checked clearances before the fix was in, the .5 mm feeler had lots of room. When I was done, the clearances were really tight, but the clutch was free to spin and it was even all around. I figure I will let this bastard setup settle in fora bit and then see what clearances I have.

Aside from all of the whining, thanks once again to everyone who has posted about this trick. It sure beats disassembling the entire AC system.

callahanoffroad · Post by **callahanoffroad** » 06 Jul 2020, 04:50

You know what worked really well for me? Guitar picks. You use a flathead screwdriver to open a space under the rubber part that applies pressure, add a dab of super glue to the side of the guitar pick that connects to the rubber piece, slide in, remove screw driver, and repeat. I've done it on two different cars and so far no issues over 6 years.

Post by **jreed** » 06 Jul 2020, 06:47

Likewise. I added brass shims on mine, also using superglue to hold them in place, and that was about 10 years ago. No problems since then.

Post by **Eddystone** » 06 Jul 2020, 07:02

Well, we'll see how long my tie wrap fix lasts. I have to say that the fit is just so tight that I can't imagine them working their way loose with or without super glue. The nice thing about the guitar pick idea is that you can choose any thickness you want. Honestly, I read a couple of threads about installing these things and did not notice any mention of going in from the wheel well rather than the top. When I was struggling with the job, I thought about going in from the wheel well but my reading made me think that wasn't necessary. I guess I either missed that detail in the threads I left or else I need to sometimes just think for myself. It seemed to me at the time that it would have been an obvious thing to mention in every thread, so I just threw that baby out with the bath water. My mistake.

callahanoffroad · Post by **callahanoffroad** » 10 Jul 2020, 19:57

Eddystone wrote: ↑06 Jul 2020, 07:02 Well, we'll see how long my tie wrap fix lasts. I have to say that the fit is just so tight that I can't imagine them working their way loose with or without super glue. The nice thing about the guitar pick idea is that you can choose any thickness you want. Honestly, I read a couple of threads about installing these things and did not notice any mention of going in from the wheel well rather than the top. When I was struggling with the job, I thought about going in from the wheel well but my reading made me think that wasn't necessary. I guess I either missed that detail in the threads I left or else I need to sometimes just think for myself. It seemed to me at the time that it would have been an obvious thing to mention in every thread, so I just threw that baby out with the bath water. My mistake.

Wheel well is a good idea! I lifted the car and came in from underneath. My fat sausage hands don't fit down the front so well haha

Post by **abscate** » 11 Jul 2020, 03:49

Best band guitar picks for AC fix

ACDC
Cold Play
Kompressor

Please help me stop