960 Compressor Removal Questions?

[sasjzl]

Hi all,

I am so close yet so far in removing an AC compressor from my 1996 960. I have all bolts off with the notable exception of the lower right back bolt. It is free of the nut but I cannot pull it out because of a large metal bracket that is in the way. I have no idea how to get that bracket out of the way as it is buried very deep. The other bolt is the top left back bolt which I can just barely see but have no idea how I could get to with anything tough enough to remove it. I have been working from the top and mostly bottom of the car and everything else has been very easy to get to.

I am beginning to think that it is necessary to remove the steering pump and alternator to get to that upper left bolt but I do not want to do that unless it will do the trick. Even if I can get to that bolt by removing the stuff above it I do not know how I will be able to back out that bottom back right bolt.

Has anyone out there actually removed this compressor and lived to tell about it?

Thanks very much,

Jim Lee

1996 960

[ShadowofBob]

Never had a problem with any of the front bolts for removal of the compressor. I always had an issue with the upper back bolt. As far as that bracket goes I didn't fully remove it. I took the top bolt out and loosened the bottom so it would swivel. This let me get the upper bolt out which is the one that gave me lots of grief since I couldn't get a socket on it with that bracket there.

[ShadowofBob]

Forgot to mention the back bolts connect to a single bracket that fits around the compressor. If you loosen the top bolt then the bottom bolt and repeat it backs the bracket towards the front of the engine until it is free of the bolts. The compressor can then come free and the bracket will as well.