Thread: Air compressor clutch - TD5

I replaced the AC clutch bearing last year ($35). My hub bolt was not particularly tight either. The AC clutch can be removed from the compressor without opening the gas side of the sytem. With the belt and inner part of the hub removed (as yours is), a circlip can be removed and the outer pulley/bearing removed from the compressor nose with a puller. Easy.

It looks like the clutch assy is hard to source new although I did not try for a genuine LR part, but the clutch can be reconditioned (new friction material/bearing, contact Ingram Ashdown Thebarton 36-38 Cawthorn Street 08 8257 2345)
The fan is easily bought second-hand ($150?), try TR Spares Magna Court Lonsdale, they may also sell you an AC clutch, since you have probably lost the bolt and the crucial shim/washer that sets the clearance between the inner(compressor shaft) and outer (belt driven pulley) parts. They also do repairs but make sure you take plenty of money with you...

I would not drive with a shredded fan even if the belt drive/AC pulley is intact, since if fan comes apart you will have even more expensive repairs (radiator/bonnet/pipework etc). If fan is removed the vehicle may be driveable but will overheat if allowed to to idle in traffic.
Hope this is of some help
Jason

Originally Posted by FatBob

I went to start the engine today and an almighty racket came from under the bonnet with bits of fan blade flying all over the place. The air conditioning compressor clutch had let go (bolt had worked loose) and the clutch piece went straight into the fan, nice.... Anyway, I'm guessing a new air conditioning compressor unit and fan blade unit will be required? Can anyone please advise a cost estimate for these parts or whether the part can be replaced without replacing the unit itself? The pulleys and belt look undamaged?

According to RAA guy who helped me out he's seen this happen a few times on Disco 2's?

cheers
FB

Is it the whole clutch assembly that has let go? My understanding is that it is common for the (M6?) bolt that holds the front friction plate (?) onto the very front of the compressor unit to come loose, which will let the plate fall off and the compressor will not work.

A couple of years ago this bolt came loose and fell off and I was lucky that when the plate finally decided to fall off the splined shaft it fell onto the fan and was lightly flicked up onto the top of the engine which is where I found it a couple of days later. (You can be lucky sometimes!) LR would only replace the compressor as a whole unit at a cost of about $2K! All I did was get a replacement bolt and bolt the front clutch plate back on.

Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Chris

Well guess what, my A/C was not working this afternoon. After an hour of electrical checks, I got to the point of susoecting the compressor clutch. Even applying 12V to the clutch did not cause the engine to slow a little. Then I loooked a bit closer and thought, I don't remeber it looking like that.
Yes the front half of the clutch had come off but didn't damage anything. I thought how am I going to get the piece that is gone. I had a quick look around and there it was sitting on the ineer guard below the PS fluid reservoir.
So my question now is can I get the shims to put it back together with and should I loctite the bolt.

Regards
Gordon
2003 D2a TD5 Auto