Shaft Seal Replacement
Tools RequiredJ-5403 Snap Ring Pliers
J-9553-1 O-Ring Remover
J-231 28-A Seal Seat Remover and Installer
J-33011 O-Ring Installer
J-3461 4 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 only be changed when a large amount of sprayed oil is found. Then, only after actual refrigerant leakage is found by using an approved leak detection procedure.
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.
Disassembly Procedure
1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Recover the refrigerant.
3. Loosen and reposition the compressor in the mounting brackets.
4. Remove the clutch drive plate and hub assembly from the compressor.
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-ring groove.
7. Fully engage the knurled tangs of the seal seat remover and installer J-231 28-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-ring from the compressor neck using the O-ring remover J-9553-1.
9. Thoroughly clean the seal O-ring 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.
Assembly Procedure
IMPORTANT: Seats 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-ring in clean polyalkalene glycol (PAG) refrigerant oil and assemble the O-ring onto the O-ring installer J-33011.
2. Insert the O-ring installer J-33011 into the compressor neck until the installer "bottoms." Lower the moveable slide of the O-ring installer J-33011 to release the O-ring into the seal O-ring lower groove. (The top groove of the compressor neck is for the shaft seal retainer ring.) Rotate the installer to seat the O-ring and then remove the installer.
3. Attach the shaft lip seal to the seal seat remover and 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-540310 install the shaft seal retaining ring with its flat side against the seal.
6. Remove any excess oil around the shaft and the in-side of the compressor housing neck.
7. Install the clutch plate and hub assembly.
8. Reposition the compressor in its mounting.
9. Adjust the tension on the drive belt.
10. Connect the negative battery cable.
11. Evacuate and recharge the A/C system.
12. Perform a leak test of the system.