I had to replace the ac compressor last year, last week the clutch assembly flew off, is it possible to only replace the unit or will i have to replace the whole compressor ?

 

The whole unit

 

It is almost always possible to replace the ac comp clutch, but there are risks.you first have to ensure the clutch didn"t burn up due to seizing of the comp. There is also the question of part availabilty and the potemtial need for special tools to remove the clutch.

Personally, after having rebuilt several older MB and Volvo systems, I try to do as thorough a job as I can and replace comp, hoses, TXV, and receiver/dryer if I'm going to do the work myself.

HTH

 

Part is not available for MINI's.

 

If you are going tomopen up the system, just get a new/rebuilt unit.
I have heard of only a handful of folks that found a rebuilder that would replace just the clutch....
It would beca shame to remove a compressor, replace the clutch, then reinstall, evacuate the system, change the dryer, and refil, just to have the 90% worn compressor fail a few months later....penny wise, $$$ foolish.
AC compressors are wear items... They wear as they work... And the things you must replace...the drier, the r-134a, the tools....it gets $$$ quick to open them up more than once, plus the downtime....
Fix it once, fix it right, save $$.

 

I was hoping to use the clutch assembly from the original ac compressor i had replaced due to it leaking around the input shaft. I did not realize that any special tools were needed or that the compressor had to be removed from the car in order to replace the clutch assemble.

 

Had ac compressor and dryer replaced, now there is not much cold air

 

The system REQUIRES that a vacuum be pulled on the system before it is refilled...failure to do so results in poor performance. Also if the system is overfilled...it will work poorly....With AC refrigerant...too much results in poor performance!!