Yeah I just got out from under it. Replaced thermostat (man what a pain with all the plastic and low ground clearance!) anyway while refilling the coolant... noticed the burning smell wife mentioned... looked over and smoke coming up from ac clutch area. I'm assuming it's the belt getting too hot rolling over it. Anyway crawled under with a feeler gauge. The bottom I can't even get the .010 gauge under there... it's touching. The left side let .030 in without touching. The top was resisting .030 and the right side (engine front) let the .015 with resistance. See attached pics.
So now I'm wondering what would have my clutch hub off kilter? I found the clutch assembly (coil,pulley, and hub) but I also found the hub alone for sale. Can I replace the clutch hub with a new shim and be happy? Or is my issue more inclusive than just the clutch hub?

Oh I can spin the clutch, I get constant resistance. Haven't spun the pulley yet as the tensioner is on it but will try tomorrow.

 

If the compressor works fine, then I would think rebuilding the clutch is definitely a viable option.

 

Does yours has the FS10 compressor? I think the 3.0 had the FS10 on it... same compressor on our trucks.

 

Honestly I'm not sure, how do i check? I have the v6 4wd escape.

So you think if the clutch hub is off kilter it (probably) just needs a new clutch hub and shim kit? And not the whole kit? (Coil,pulley,hub)

I'm not too familiar with ac compressors so I'm not sure what could cause the clutch to tilt like that. I just thought of this and I'm hoping I'm wrong. Could the inner shaft that the clutch assembly slides over/on to tilt down thus causing the clutch to only touch at the bottom? If that's the case I think it would need a whole new compressor

 

Just looked mine up.... it's a HALLA built compressor on my Escape. Think it said Made in Japan too.....



Getting some flashbacks here..... LOL

 

Well autozone thinks I should have the FS10 compressor but I'm not trusting their opinion lol

Also the more I read the more I see people mentioning the compressor getting too hot and melting bearing seals and causing havoc... meaning a clutch hub is only a band aid; if even that.

So now I'm concerned since it was smoking for my wife and then smoked for a minute today; was it the belt or did I melt the pulley bearing seal? And that's why it's tilted ?

If I take tensioner off (release belt pressure) and the pulley spins freely, that would mean my pulley is still in good shape right? And then probably just needing a new hub?

 

The factory FS10's were great. I think the remans outside of Motorcraft are junk though. As I recall, either AK or Brew also noted this a while back. I used to like the brand Four Seasons, who I believe does the Duralast compressors, but they are very noisy... metal grinding sounds.

 

So yeah saw the sticker, it's an FS10. Got the belt off.... and the pulley wobbles and the smallest disc was broken and bent. Then noticed bearing was trashed. Pulled the pulley off and yep that burning smell was my coil; it's toast. Looks like I'll be buying the whole clutch assembly. Yay...
In the pulley pics the circle below the pulley is what's left of the bearing, oh there's a ball next to the pulley lol.

 

Well, at least it's the clutch and not the compressor itself. Less expense, and *way* less hassle.

 

Geez... the ball bearings were just floating around in there?