Folks-

Got 65K miles on my SSEi.. I notice when the A/C is off, there is a "raspy" noise under the hood.. Engage the A/C compressor and it goes away.. Today, I took the belt off and the pulley spins with a dry bearing sound. It spins good with just a small side to side play in it.

Anyhow, anyone have/had this noise? Is it something I need to fix soon (I asume replace the compressor clutch), or is it just normal to have this noise..

Thanks.. Weird problem it seems..

The clutch needs to be adjusted.

https://www.gmforum.com/mechanical-134/adjust-ac-clutch-plate-278951/

Danthurs- Thanks for the quick reply.. Yeah, I read that and figured that didn't apply since I am hearing the bearings make the noise.. You still think it needs adjusting??

Can't say I've heard of any compressors loosing bearings. Every time I've had one making noise, it'* been the clutch.

Danthurs-

I went out there and was able to run a .15 feeler gauge easily all the way around that gap between the clutch and pulley. .20 was a tick snug in the area pointing towards the crank.

In fact, I took a LED flashlight and can see light shining through the gap all the way around between the pulley and the clutch. With the SC belt off, I started the car and ran the A/C.. Of course, the gap dissappeared.. Turned the AC off and I can 100% see light all the way around once again. I just don't see the clutch dragging the pulley whatsoever. Does this tell you anything?

I am like you though.. Never heard of a bearing going.. Only thing I will say is we had flooding rain in east TX the day or two before I noticed the loud noise coming from under the hood.

Try spraying soem oil in the clutch and see if that does anything. It could be a bearing.

I did auto HVAC for years, allot of compressors need the air gap adjusted but I have also changed many bearings.