Im not 100% positive, youll have to do some research, but I dont think you can swap anything on your 98. If I remember correctly from doing mine, it was only earlier models that had compressors that could be worked on. On later models you can get the pulley itself off, but its everything under that (bearings) that you cant do anything to. Again, do some research, call the dealer and give them your vin and see what their computer shows. Thats how I found out for sure that I needed a completely new compressor. Mines not serviceable.

 

intrestiing

 

Just replaced the pulley bearing and clutch plate on my '98.

Lot of information on the forum. Search for ac clutch.
Jeroen

 

so you can replace the bearing?

 

I think the point is, you cant just take someones word. Youll need to research the subject, call the dealer, talk to the parts store, etc. RESEARCH!

 

been doing research called part stores this is my only vehicle so i cant take it apart just to find out if i can

 

Why not? Thats usually what I do. You cant drive it now can you? I dont know, if youre searching the forum for some almighty know-it-all to tell you, "Yes my child, the ac compressor bearing CAN be replaced in your XJ, here is the link to the part you need" then you might be waiting a while. Id rather take 20 minutes and pull it apart and see whats in there and call 5-10 local parts stores and a Jeep dealership, but hey, thats just me and what I did when mine went.

 

Just replaced the pulley bearing and clutch plate on my '98.

Lot of information on the forum. Search for ac clutch.
Jeroen

 

jeepability: Maybe one of these guys who KNOWS its repairable will actually help you out. I just spent the better part of an hour trying to find any and all info on this and I cannot. No place I searched has any ac compressor parts for your '98, which to me says you have a non-serviceable compressor like mine. I checked the factory parts catalog and they just show it as one unit with no serviceable parts. I searched a number of online parts dealers and everyone just sells the complete compressor. So, unless someone is willing to actually help you out and give you some dead-on, direct information, it looks to me as though your compressor is not serviceable. I'm MORE THAN interested in seeing someone post some helpful links, I cannot find any myself. Im NOT the end-all and be-all though, so only take that for what you will. Wish I could help you more, but unless someone can provide some definitive information, Id call your dealer first thing tomorrow and see what they say. Have your VIN number handy AND your compressor brand, part #, etc.
PS: If you have to buy a new compressor, it should be more than $209ish. Ive found them in that range and lower almost everywhere.

 

Did you use any tools that a normal DIY guy wouldn't have?
For instance, a press?

 

If you hear peculiar noises with the A/C on or off indeed likely to be the clutch bearing. Easy to check. Take of the serpentine belt and feel/turn the clutch bu hand.

I had a 1998 Jeep Cherokee with the exact same problem. Finding parts is a problem. I couldn't find anything on the Internet, so I started calling.

The guy who ran these adds knew exactly what I needed:

Ebay: http://stores.ebay.com/Business-Auto...id=p4340.l2563

I was searching for the AC clutch parts and happened to run into various postings from this guy. He didn't advertise my particular parts but he sure had a lot of AC clutch parts going for sale.

Sure enough he had a new coil, clutch plate, bearing and shims. No pulley.
$86 including shipping to Kansas City.

He also provided a step by step repair procedure.

All in all, not difficult. The tricky part is getting the bearing out of the pulley. The bearing is held in place partly by a very tight fitting but also by a number of center punches in the outer ring. I used a dremel to smoothen them out as much as possible. Then popped the pulley with the old bearing into my wife's oven when she wasn't home and heated to 250oF. Then with a large size socket that's about the size of the outer casing of the bearing and a large hammer rammed it out.

Putting the new bearing in, more or less same procedure. Used the dremel to smooth out any of the old center punch holes as much as possible. Pulley into the oven at 250F. I used the inner and outer casing rings of the old bearing to fit the bearing into the (hot) pulley (very easy) and subsequently with care fit it onto the compressor. Again, when everything is nice and warm it goes on without too much trouble. You don't want to be banging to heavily on the compressor.

The clutch plate and the pulley had really worn into one another. I actually fitted the old clutch plate instead of the new one, because with the grooves, the old one fitted better against the worn pulley then the new clutch plate.

No special tools needed.

Jeroen