Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum (Archives)

psawall on Sat August 21, 2010 11:41 AM

Year: 2000
Make: Saturn
Model: LS2
Engine Size: V6-3.0L
Refrigerant Type: 134a
Country of Origin: United States

I'm in the process of replacing my clutch bearing and I lost my snap ring when I was removing it. Only God knows where that thing flew off to. Does anyone know what size I need? Most everything on this car is metric and I can only find SAE snap rings at the local stores, so I suppose a "good enough" SAE size would do.

I noticed on the ackits.com website that there is a 5GR and 6GR option for the compressor on my car. I'm not sure which one I have...there is a 5G stamped on the side where the clutch is and a 6G stamped on the other end. This is the stock unit as far as I know (bought the car with 50K miles). If the exact model number is elsewhere on the unit, I don't think I'll find it as it's still bolted to the vehicle.

Thanks for your time! -Peter

shane001k on Wed May 18, 2011 3:45 PM

i haft to change my clutch bearing same car and motor and model year as yours how hard was this to do? did you haft to remove your compressor or can i do it on the car?

Cussboy on Wed May 18, 2011 8:35 PM

Did you try your local Ace Hardware store for metric snap rings? Or mcmaster.com ?

NickD on Thu May 19, 2011 6:35 AM

Must be the external retainer ring that fits in the groove on the compressor sleeve to hold the idler pulley on. Can't be the internal ring GM use to use to hold the bearing within the idler pulley, GM doesn't use that anymore, bearing is peened in.

So looking for an external retainer ring that will be slightly less than the diameter of the groove in the sleeve and narrow enough to fit in. With those two dimensions, thickness, and inside diameter, you are all set to shop, try a wrecking yard. Now losing a ring that fits on a 1 mm shaft is easy, this sucker is large, check under the tire?

Go through pains not to have to open a perfectly good system to change a bearing. removing shield, cutting off a small piece of worthless in the way sheet metal blocking it, or removing the compressor mounting bolts except the rear one, loose so you can either tip it up or down and wire it in place. Watch out for those hoses, no stress on them.

Been popping off new bearing seals, and asking where is the grease, reason why you are having problems in the first place. Clean that off and put some real grease in the bearing. Compressor bearing is always the first to go as it sees the most heat, all those other single drive belt bearing would be soon to follow, so take care of those too.