Removal & Installation

NOTE: A shaft seal should not be replaced because a small amount of oil is found on 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.

NOTE: Should a compressor shaft seal ever have to be replaced, receiver-dryer in this system must also be removed from vehicle. The oil in receiver-dryer must then be drained, measured and replaced. Any dirt or foreign material that enters compressor may cause damage.

Disconnect negative battery cable. Recover refrigerant. Loosen and reposition compressor in mounting brackets. Remove clutch drive plate and hub assembly from compressor. Use snap ring pliers J-5403 to remove shaft seal retaining ring.
Thoroughly clean inside of compressor housing area surrounding shaft, exposed portion of seal, shaft itself, and O-ring groove. Fully engage knurled tangs of seal seat remover/installer J-23128-A into recessed portion of seal by turning handle clockwise. Remove and discard seal from compressor with a rotating-pulling motion.
The handle should be hand tightened securely. Do not use a wrench or pliers to tighten handle. Remove and discard O-ring from compressor neck using O-ring remover J-9553-1. Thoroughly clean seal O-ring groove in compressor housing. Inspect shaft and inside of compressor housing neck for dirt or foreign material. These parts must be perfectly clean before installing any new parts.
NOTE: Seals must not be reused. Always use a NEW specification service seal kit. Be sure that seal to be installed is not scratched or damaged in any way. The seal must be free of lint and dirt that may, damage seal surface or prevent proper sealing.
To install, Dip new seal O-ring in clean Polyalkylene glycol (PAG) refrigerant oil and assemble O-ring onto O-ring installer J-33011. Insert O-ring installer into compressor neck until installer "bottoms". Lower moveable slide of O-ring installer to release O-ring into seal O-ring lower groove. (The top groove of compressor neck is for shaft seal retainer ring).
Rotate installer to seat O-ring and then remove installer. Attach shaft lip seal to seal seat remover/installer J-23128-A. Dip seal in clean PAG oil. Install shaft seal protector J-34614 in seal. Place it over shaft and push seal into place with a rotary motion. Use snap ring pliers J-5403 to install shaft seal retaining ring with its flat side against seal. Remove any excess oil around shaft and inside of compressor housing neck. Install clutch plate and hub assembly.
Reposition compressor in its mounting. Adjust tension on serpentine accessory drive belt. Connect negative battery cable. Evacuate and recharge A/C system. Perform a leak test of system.