2G How do remove the intermediate shaft bracket to get the AC bracket back on?

[randizzle420]

Do I just loosen the intermediate shaft bracket and wiggle it out the way to put the AC bracket back on? It has a spacer on it now. I'm not sure the procedure because I don't want to break anything to get the AC bracket on. I'm reinstalling the AC system in the engine bay because the previous one was removed.

 

[AWD-Tony]

It’s just like a cv axle with a clip that snaps once it’s connected. Use a pry bar and it’ll just pop, pop off

 

[randizzle420]

It’s just like a cv axle with a clip that snaps once it’s connected. Use a pry bar and it’ll just pop, pop off

So it needs to be pulled out? I can't just loosen it, remove the spacer, and slide the AC bracket inbetween the space?

 

[AWD-Tony]

Gotta love YT

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So it needs to be pulled out? I can't just loosen it, remove the spacer, and slide the AC bracket inbetween the space?

You might be able to slide it in. Getting the compressor back in will be the hard part. @waltah is installing ac as well and has a thread going.

https://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/about-to-put-a-c-back-in-operation-any-hints-or-thoughts.539692/

 

[pauleyman]

You may not have to remove the axle. Just unbolt it and the bracket will rotate towards the rear of the car. If it doesn't give you enough room them remove the axle bearing and all in one piece. Would allow a lot of arm room if you did.

 

[waltah]

The shop manual doesn't mention anything about AWD so probably they didn't consider there would be any special procedures required. What I would try -- if it looks to you as if it would work -- is:

1. Free the spacer as you say and push the bracket toward the rear a little.
2. Put the compressor down in there in roughly the right orientation and push it back under the intake manifold out of the way. This is the part I'm unsure about -- is there room over the shaft hanger to do this? Should be, but I've never worked on an AWD DSM.
3. Put the compressor bracket in place and bolt it and the shaft hanger to the block.
4. Pull the compressor back in alignment with its bracket and put in the four bolts. I don't think the bottom two bolts can be put in with the compressor in place.
5. Lift the compressor up in place and start the top bolt on the near (driver) end -- that'll be the only one you can see clearly and once it's done, the rest are easy.

The reason to put the compressor in before the bracket is that once the bracket's in place the hole to get the compressor down in there was too small for me to figure out a way to do it. Doing it this way solves that problem. and you can install the tensioner arm on the bracket (slightly loose) beforehand saving a 'start the screw in a hole you can't see when your hand is down there while holding two parts in alignment' operation.

Be sure when putting the compressor in to have the two ports plugged so dirt doesn't get in. Also be sure when you start to hook things up that your plugs are removed! I use a single wad of paper towel large enough that it'll stick out and thus be easy to see and remove. There's better plugs that that for long term, but when the goal is just 'keep dirt (mud dauber wasps ...) out for a couple days,' paper towels are adequate.