Biohazard

Mission: Remove the main support bracket from the compressor (or vice-versa)

It would have been much easier to do this on the car. If I had known how to get the compressor clutch off, that's how I would have proceeded. Problem is, there is one long bolt that you cannot get out unless you pull the clutch/pulley off the end of the compressor shaft.
I wound up doing it off the car in these photos...

Here is the difficult child:



To begin, you gotta remove the bolt at the center of the clutch, its about a 7/16 hex. Put a ratchet on it and give the handle a whack, it should start to back out. Then you will see this:



The smaller hole is where that bolt threaded in. The much larger threads are what you will now exploit with an appropriate bolt. 3/4" coarse thread, $2 from Ace got it done.



Insert bolt into the hole, engaging those larger threads. Once the bolt bottoms-out, it will press against the compressor shaft and pop the outer clutch off. (thanks FABO!)



Under that is another part held on with three small bolts (9/32 or 10/32, not sure)



I wanted to use a nut driver but didn't have one in the appropriate size. I was able to coax them out using pliers but if you do this BE CAREFUL. The bolts are kinda soft.

Once those small bolts are out, that's it. The inner part of the clutch should lift right off with the green wire attached (so make sure it's free from the rest of the compressor).

With the whole clutch off, you can then slide that last bolt out (or bolts if you're doing it on-car) and the A/C may be separated from that support bracket.



Voila!