I am attempting to replace my A/C system in 2007 Ford F150 5.4L and everything has gone smoothly until I got to removing the actual compressor. There are two bolts on the lower side of it and one on the upper side where there is very little room to remove it. I was able to take the first two out with no problem at all. Once I got to the upper one I stripped it and I am unable to get it to budge at all. I have tried bolt extractor sockets, channel locks and everything else I have. There is literally no room to work with when trying to get to this last bolt on the A/C compressor. Thank you for any suggestions with this issue.

 

Rounded the head or stripped the threads?

 

So I have cut the bolt head off but I can't get to the other side to cut the rest of it. I can atleast move the compressor around to try and break it but with no success. I have hit a wall with this job I have everything else removed and ready to go but this stubborn A/C compressor.

 

Is it stripped threads or rounded bolt head?

had something similar happen on my 02 rangers water pump. Snapped the head off a bolt. Said screw it and paid $1200 for a mechanic to finish the job. He had to drill it out.

 

 

Picture in above post; This is where the last bolt is that I can not get out. My sawzall is to big I may have to take the radiator out to make it fit or just say screw it and buy a smaller one to cut it. I can only hope there would be enough bolt left to get vice grips on.

 

Get one of those socket with teeth style extractor kits (like Irwin Bolt-Grip), and put a power wrench on it. You will thank yourself for having the power wrench every time you work on a vehicle, and the Irwin set I have works really well.

 

If I am understanding the problem correctly then I would use a hacksaw blade (new fine tooth and sharp) and cut the bolt by hand.
Sometimes corrosion between the bolt and the housing prevents the bolt from turning in the housing.
One more thought, If the A/C compressor housing encompasses the bolt (in my experience they generally do) you might consider cutting into the housing along with the bolt about 3/4" back from where the bolt enters the block so that once you get the A/C compressor off you will have something of the bolt left for extraction.

 

You were exactly right, I had to cut in to the housing which did leave some of the bolt left in the block of the motor which came right out after I was able to get it cut. Never in my wildest dreams I would have though an A/C Compressor would have been a pain like this. Thank you.

 

Ryanc236,

You are welcome and I am glad it worked for you.

Stuck bolts can be the death of a repair.
A note to others; before you break the bolt off consider what you will do from that point to extract what remains.

Jimboy