A/C Compressor Pulley bad- can I bypass it?

[fyodor79]

My 1988 Camry has a bad pulley on the A/C Compressor- the compressor doesn't work, and I don't want to fix it. It's not the bearings- the pulley itself is chipped and wobbles. It's run that way for years now, but I'd like to fix it.

I believe that belt only runs to the A/C compressor, alternator, and power steering, so if the pulley did break, there's a chance I could drive it home, but I'm worried about the resulting damage if it goes.

Can I pull the pulley and simply put a smaller belt on to bypass the compressor entirely? I can't bypass the compressor with the pulley on, because of the angle. Was A/C an option in 1988, so that there would be an official belt for the Camry without A/C that would fit, or do I just need to find one that will?

How hard is it to remove a pulley? My father and I couldn't do it with regular tools- I assume you have to buy/rent a special part that will do the trick?

Any advice appreciated.

Edit: Found a thread that tells how to pull a pulley, and suggests that the pulley can be removed and bypassed. Does anyone know what belt size goes on a 1988 Camry without an A/C compressor?

[atobe]

i don't think that belt runs the power steering it just runs the alt + ac from the looks of it.. i checked kragens..

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...e=1063&PTSet=A just the alt is 39.5" long

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...e=1063&PTSet=A alt + ac is 43.5" long

[fyodor79]

Thanks- this forum is awesome!

[Jimnist]

Yes, you can bypass the A/C pulley. You just need to buy a new (shorter) Serpentine belt and run it from harmonic balance/crank pulley to alternator. AFAIK, you don't even need to take the A/C compressor or pulley off.; seems like there's enough space. P/S is run off a separate, smaller belt.

[fyodor79]

My father and I managed to remove the A/C compressor pulley and run a smaller belt just to the alternator. We rented a tool from O'Reilly's, but we couldn't figure out how to use it so we just broke it off with a hammer.

The Compressor had three bolts- we had to remove the upper radiator hose, but that took less than a minute- and the we just tilted it up to work on it. After breaking off the pulley, we just remounted it. There was plenty of clearance for the new belt.

For those interested, a 5pk1015 seems to work fine for the smaller belt. My engine practically whispers now that the darned wobbly pulley is gone.

Thanks again, everybody!