What should I do?
 

Car = '87 944na

I removed the adjustment screw from the bottom of my A/C compressor (I won't go into why). This is the part with the spherical bushing that screws into the adjustment strut for the alternator/AC belt.

While screwing it back in I looked and noticed some metal shaving beneath the area I was working and I believe I may have cross threaded and started the process of stripping the threads on the hole.

It is in there and feels fairly solid but I am afraid to take it out, and I don't want to screw it in any further. The AC isn't working but it isn't in the budget to get a new compressor.

If I have bunged up the mounting hole at the bottom of the compressor, what can I do?

GHEN

I guess you might get a tap and die set and rethread the hole to a larger size.?

Helicoil

or just drill it out and use a nut/bolt through the whole thing, if you're changing the compressor later it won't really matter anyway......

I cannot use another nut/bolt. The bolt is permanently part of the bushing at the end of the adjuster, so there is no substitution possible.

I appreciate the input though...now to Google "helicoil" :-)

GHEN

the bolts at the end of the adjuster should come out, maybe it's just frozen in there? at least the 100+ i've seen come through the shop were.......

looks like this right?
http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/smart/more_info.cgi?pn=944-126-021-03-M100&catalog_description=Adjustment%20Bar%20for%20 Alternator%20%26%20A%2FC%20Compressor%2C%20924S%2C %20944%2FS%2FS2%2FTurbo%2C%20968%2C%20Each

If you are so inclined to replace the entire alumium mounting bracket I have one that I am willing to sell pretty cheap as I will never use it.

Weird, the spherical bushing rotates along with the bolt on mine. Does the ones you have seen press out? I don't see how it could unscrew out so maybe it is just frozen in there.

Thanks, I'll look at it again. Of course I am afraid to back it out of the compressor without a "B" plan :-)

Thanks,

GHEN

Thank you, unfortunately the hole I am referring to is the one on the bottom of the compressor, and is part of the compressor body.

Unless I'm confused about what you are referring to?

GHEN