HELP: A/C Compressor Alignment Issue Air Conditioning
 

123.153 (83 300CD turbo)

I was looking at my car before a trip, and I noticed that the

A/C compressor is out of alignment with relation to the crank pulley. From my calibrated eye, it looks to be about 9 degrees off of the plane of the crank pulley. I always remember it straight.

Has anyone dealt with this issue? Please advise.

There are a couple/few different size spacers used on these compressors. Sounds like your are either missing or not in the correct location. I'd suggest finding another W123 and duplicating where the spacers go.

Which plane is it more out of alignment ? Horizontal or Vertical ?

I took some pictures, but its really hard to see what Im talking about.

Normally, both pulleys would be in the same plane, correct?

If you took your hands from underneith the car and put them around the pulley for the ac compressor, and rotated the whole compressor clockwise (from underneith the car) that is how it is misaligned.

It not plane you should be thinking about...but centerline of the A/C compressor pully should be as close to dead center with the other pulley as is possible. Something it appears it is not right now.

It should also have an axix that is inline with the engine axis .....if the spacers were misinstalled as it appears they can be off on both.

we are both thinking of the same alignment issue.

It was ligned up for a long time, but reciently I noticed this problem. All the bolts are there, so I dont know how the shims could be missing.

My understanding is there is numerous spacers adn shims...all different lengths....if they were not placed in their correct oon the correct locations it will cock the unit and cause alignment issues you describe....

Its likely a shop or the PO did that....it will work like that but not without accelerated wear issues...Its posdsible you just never noticed the fact it is like that untill recently......If nobody has serviced it and you are 100% certain it was right before check to be sure you don't have a mount failing.

The shims I always used to align pumps and motors were cut into a U shape and could easily fall out if mounted in the verticle position.
If the bolts on the mount aren't tight then their probably gone.

Danny

Is that standard MB material? U shaped spacers? Cuz you are probably right.