MountaineerTom's 2006 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
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MountaineerTom
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If that’s what the original black ones from Skyjacker were, they didn’t last long at all. They have only been on there 4 years, maybe. I’d have to look to be sure.
Like @OldBuzzard said, it seems weird yours broke down like that. You don't really have that many miles on these do you?
MountaineerTom
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I don’t feel like I do. I’d have to look it up, but maybe 4 years, and if I had to guess, 15,000 miles.
I found a few random rubber shock bushings in a drawer in the garage. As I recall, these are probably 50 years old, unused. They're in perfect condition, strong and pliable, not breaking down. They're not out in the weather, and not under compression and varying pressure. But at least they don't seem to break down by themselves.
I wonder how the different materials withstand the environment and being squeezed and pressure-bumped in driving. Yours looked like they just disintegrated, like the material was breaking down chemically.
I wonder how the different materials withstand the environment and being squeezed and pressure-bumped in driving. Yours looked like they just disintegrated, like the material was breaking down chemically.
MountaineerTom
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It does seem like they just broke down. I do have a handful of wheeling trips and a couple trips on the beach in the Outer Banks, but nothing I’d consider extreme and no driving in saltwater.
It’s definitely odd. I guess I need to do a close look at the front lowers and the rear ones.
It’s definitely odd. I guess I need to do a close look at the front lowers and the rear ones.
MountaineerTom
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Went to use the A/C the other day and it didn’t work. Started looking around with a UV light and found this on the bottom of the compressor.
Guess I’ll start looking for a compressor. Debating whether to change out everything. It’s all original except the evap core that replaced in 2019 when I did the heater core.
Guess I’ll start looking for a compressor. Debating whether to change out everything. It’s all original except the evap core that replaced in 2019 when I did the heater core.
In my last truck I changed out everything , but that was because my compressor locked up . Everything is too expensive to take a chance that some metal fragments didn't get flushed out .
Probably not a concern in your situation, but new hoses and a dryer wouldn't be a bad idea along with the compressor and good system flush .
Probably not a concern in your situation, but new hoses and a dryer wouldn't be a bad idea along with the compressor and good system flush .
I am in the same situation. Mine has been leaking for two years. It’s not a daily driver. They did a recharge anyway which bought me some limited time this past summer, but it’s dead again now. They want ~$1500 to do the whole system and don’t want to provide any warranty unless they do the whole system. Similar discussion about potential for contaminants from the old parts ruining the new. I have been putting it off.
FWIW, $1500 for the "whole system" is a very reasonable price, assuming their warranty is trustworthy. Replacing the compressor isn't a hard job, but it's not easy either. I'd just be clear about what they're actually going to replace.
I've installed two compressors from Jeep Air and have no issues with them. One has been in for 4 years and over 30K miles. I looked at their listings and couldn't tell is the compressor was new or not. Both the ones I got were. To be transparent, I got a condenser from them that was defective and they next day shipped a replacement to me.
I also checked Rock Auto, which shows a Nippondenso compressor kit that looks like the kit Jeep Air lists. It has a condenser, where the Jeep Air kit doesn't. FWIW, I buy all my Jeep A'C stuff from Jeep Air and their customer service has always been great. Rock Auto, not so much.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinf...tcOaWYkjVAP22PInn64IWDgDA3shBme10Fo/K5IVwl6w=
https://jeepair.com/collections/com...rangler-compressor-kit?variant=32067023405141
MountaineerTom
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Thanks for the tips. I haven’t done any serious shopping around yet but was going to check Jeep Air out. I’d be doing all the work myself. Over the last year or so I’ve bought a vacuum pump and some gauges because I wanted to learn how to do this myself. A buddy of mine knows how to do it so he can help me with the recharging part.
I did see on Rock Auto they had a Denso compressor. I think I read where if you replacing everything, the Denso compressor has all the oil you need for the system. That’s what got me to thinking of just changing everything.
MountaineerTom
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I noticed those kits don’t come with the hoses and hard lines. I guess you don’t need to change those out? Based on condition, I guess.
From my memory, the rubber parts of my hoses looked good, but I’d have to look closer at them to be sure.
Just blow then out as you're rebuilding/replacing parts. You're replacing the orifice/filter which should catch 99% of any particles that would be in the system.
MountaineerTom
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I’m running the denso compressor, condenser with no issues. I think jeep air sells the flex hoses too. I put a new four season drier too.
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Makes sense.
Even if the O-ring looks good I still replace them with new ones as a CYA thing.
As Rick says, you can blow them out, provided you didn't have a compressor failure (Which I know you didn't). I'm of the replace it all mindset though. The cost is small and not worth the time of cleaning up the old lines. Plus, when I don't follow my own protocol, it inevitably comes back to bight me you know where!
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