Expensive lesson learned: A/C line rubbing against winch

[jediwebdude]

When I installed my original SmittyBilt winch, I was able to push the metal cooling line back far enough it never rubbed. Last year, I replaced my dead winch with a ComeUp, which takes up more room. I wasn't successful with getting the line to avoid touching the winch. Worse yet, the line rested right on the corner of the winch. I didn't think it would be an issue. In hindsight, I should have wrapped that section with something to protect it.

My A/C was blowing just fine a few days ago and suddenly shut off. I pulled over to a gas station to swap the A/C fuse, hoping that was the issue. After doing the swap, I noticed liquid all over my front RCI alum skid plate. Where the line and winch meet was a new hole in the line.

Parts for a new A/C line, labor, and freon recharge = $442 (independent mechanic that specializes in radiators and A/C)

 

[wkeryder4]

When I installed my original SmittyBilt winch, I was able to push the metal cooling line back far enough it never rubbed. Last year, I replaced my dead winch with a ComeUp, which takes up more room. I wasn't successful with getting the line to avoid touching the winch. Worse yet, the line rested right on the corner of the winch. I didn't think it would be an issue. In hindsight, I should have wrapped that section with something to protect it.

My A/C was blowing just fine a few days ago and suddenly shut off. I pulled over to a gas station to swap the A/C fuse, hoping that was the issue. After doing the swap, I noticed liquid all over my front RCI alum skid plate. Where the line and winch meet was a new hole in the line.

Parts for a new A/C line, labor, and freon recharge = $442 (independent mechanic that specializes in radiators and A/C)

Ouch, could be worse. You could be doing the dreaded evaporator and expansion valve replacement like me. :crybaby:

 

[Liquidmantis]

Damn, glad I read this. I was able to slightly bend it and the brackets to make space for my 10k winch but it's *tight*. I'm going to take another look and see about adding a rub shield of some sort as needed.

 

[07V8]

Any recommendations on a good product to wrap the line? I'd like to do the same thing to protect against the ARB front bumper mount .

 

[jediwebdude]

Any recommendations on a good product to wrap the line? I'd like to do the same thing to protect against the ARB front bumper mount .

The mechanic muttered a name, but I didn't catch it. I'll ask when I go back on Wed for the repair (waiting on parts to come in).

 

[grapemilk]

My aftermarket front bumper chewed through my air conditioning line (in Death Valley!) After I replaced the line, I covered it with a section of rubber fuel line that I split lengthwise and secured with hose clamps.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Yeah, a lot of times you need to bow the a/c line when you install a bumper and/or winch. Someone ran into the same issue with their Shrockworks a couple years back and I was like, "oh crap, did I remember to do that when I installed mine a year ago?" Nope, luckily it hadn't eaten through the line yet, just nibbled.

 

[Inv4drZm]

I wouldn't trust wrapping it, it'll eat through whatever you wrap around it. Just make sure to bend it out of the way and then wrap it if you still want to.

 

[jediwebdude]

Ouch, could be worse. You could be doing the dreaded evaporator and expansion valve replacement like me. :crybaby:

I may get my turn. CEL today...

 

[wkeryder4]

I may get my turn. CEL today...

 

[SoSoRunner]

Reviving old thread...did anyone get a squeaking after they bent the front ac hard lines out of the way? I have a Pelfreybilt with a smittybilt x20 and it fits but... it's tight, now there's a squeaking like metal on metal when I go over lil bumps. If I grab the hard line and shake it, it makes the squeaking noise but the actual hard line isn't touching anything.

Do you think it's the rubber isolators the ac condenser is sitting in?

 

[Drunner97]

Reviving old thread...did anyone get a squeaking after they bent the front ac hard lines out of the way? I have a Pelfreybilt with a smittybilt x20 and it fits but... it's tight, now there's a squeaking like metal on metal when I go over lil bumps. If I grab the hard line and shake it, it makes the squeaking noise but the actual hard line isn't touching anything.

Do you think it's the rubber isolators the ac condenser is sitting in?

You can't nail it down to which part is squeaking? Could be the rubber isolators. I actually blew my a/c line because it was rubbing against my Demello bumper. JB welded the hole, recharged the system, and it's been fine since. No squeaking. Same winch too. I just bent the line out of the way.

FYI for anyone else. Demello bumper came with a hard plastic covering for the a/c line. Something similar would probably work best to keep the line from rubbing against metal. If I had put it on like the instructions said to, I probably would have been fine.

 

[JustinB]

Reviving old thread...did anyone get a squeaking after they bent the front ac hard lines out of the way? I have a Pelfreybilt with a smittybilt x20 and it fits but... it's tight, now there's a squeaking like metal on metal when I go over lil bumps. If I grab the hard line and shake it, it makes the squeaking noise but the actual hard line isn't touching anything.

Do you think it's the rubber isolators the ac condenser is sitting in?

I dealt with a nasty squeek for a while before I finally found it. For me it turned out there was a bolt head that screwed into the radiator (or a support for it) that held a bracket for the a/c line, such that the head of the bolt was facing the rear of the car. Right behind the head was the frame if I recall correctly. This squeeked like nails on a chalk board for a while before I found the right way to bend things.

It was located drivers side, seen from looking up while under the car. I can snap pics in a day or so when I'm back home if you wish.

Your description sounds exactly like what I encountered, for what it's worth, including the shaking the hard line and hearing a squeeking noise. The amount of wd-40, triflow, grease, etc. that I applied to the rubber isolators thinking those were the problem should keep me squeek free in that department for years to come...

 

[SoSoRunner]

You can't nail it down to which part is squeaking? Could be the rubber isolators. I actually blew my a/c line because it was rubbing against my Demello bumper. JB welded the hole, recharged the system, and it's been fine since. No squeaking. Same winch too. I just bent the line out of the way.

FYI for anyone else. Demello bumper came with a hard plastic covering for the a/c line. Something similar would probably work best to keep the line from rubbing against metal. If I had put it on like the instructions said to, I probably would have been fine.

I dealt with a nasty squeek for a while before I finally found it. For me it turned out there was a bolt head that screwed into the radiator (or a support for it) that held a bracket for the a/c line, such that the head of the bolt was facing the rear of the car. Right behind the head was the frame if I recall correctly. This squeeked like nails on a chalk board for a while before I found the right way to bend things.

It was located drivers side, seen from looking up while under the car. I can snap pics in a day or so when I'm back home if you wish.

Your description sounds exactly like what I encountered, for what it's worth, including the shaking the hard line and hearing a squeeking noise. The amount of wd-40, triflow, grease, etc. that I applied to the rubber isolators thinking those were the problem should keep me squeek free in that department for years to come...

Ok thanks guys I'll give those a try. I made sure to bend the actual hard line out of the way so that it doesn't touch anything and eventually rub a hole into it but this squeak is driving me :der: lol.

 

[Drunner97]

Ok thanks guys I'll give those a try. I made sure to bend the actual hard line out of the way so that it doesn't touch anything and eventually rub a hole into it but this squeak is driving me :der: lol.

Yeah my problem was I thought I bent the line out of the way too, but I guess when the bumper was flexing it was still hitting the line. I didn't actually blow the hole into it until I moved it out of the way for the winch. Apparently it had worn through just enough that it was on the edge.

 

[SoSoRunner]

So I figured it out last night, the bolts that attached the top rubber isolator to the condenser were loose. I just snugged them up and sprayed some silicon lube onto the actual rubber isolator. There was also the lower ac hard line where it bolted into the condenser it was very close to the steel bumper, I just put one of those sticky sided rubber feet on the bumper and now it's noise free, YAY!

I am also going to cover the hard line in some rubber hose were it's very close to anything, don't want it making contact or rubbing on anything in the future.

Thanks!

 

[SAC-CA-Runner]

Yeah, like mentioned above Demello gives you a piece of split plastic line to put over the AC line with their bumper kit. When I bent mine I made sure there was plenty of space as well.

Of course when I was putting my engine back in the lift (ie forklift) slipped and the engine fell on the two lines on the passenger side going into the firewall. Soooo, i have to replace those. Could have been a lot worse but still....Ugh. I'll look closer at this covered line and make sure everything is clear. Don't need to be spending MORE money on AC lines.

 

[JustinB]

There was also the lower ac hard line where it bolted into the condenser it was very close to the steel bumper, I just put one of those sticky sided rubber feet on the bumper and now it's noise free, YAY!
Thanks!

This was my issue, in clearer words. Not a bad idea with the rubber feet, nice job!

 

[Charles4x4]

Anyone have the part number on this AC line?

Our Warn chewed through ours. I was going to eliminate AC completely, but it’s just too hot down here. I can vacuum and recharge myself, but have to replace the section of line that rubbed on the winch first.

Thanks.

 

[davjr96]

What I did for mine was to just order a section of genaric metal AC line and splice it in. Was maybe $10 to replace.