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Removing radiator from AC condensor

C

coldsteel

New member
How the hell do you remove the radiator on the driver side from the ac condensor? I'm trying to replace radiator, and I had to lift up on the condensor from the bottom on the passenger side to "unhook" it from the radiator, but how do you remove it from the driver side? I thought the radiator should just pull out. But its hooked to the condensor with the lines attached to it as well. Its on a 06
 


the steel tabs that slip into the plastic radiator hooks tend to rust expand and wedge themselves into the hooks. it's pretty difficult to get it out but with some gentle prying with a flat head screwdriver you can usually break it free and get it out without snapping the plastic tab off. the older cars did not have this problem as they mounted the condenser with just rubber bushings that were held in place by the radiator and retained with the radiator hold down on either side of the radiator
 
Im not sure I know what steel tabs your talking about? The passenger side i was able to push the condensor from the bottom and unhook it from the radiator, I didn't see any steel tabs on that side. The driver side moves but its like I can't push it up from the bottom enough to get it free. Where should I look for this steel tab? Thanks
 
the steel tab is part of the bracket attached to the condenser, youve already seen the passenger one, both radiator hooks are in the same places, the drivers side is tougher since the condenser lines/hoses are fairly stiff, but its damn near a mirror image of the pass side.

but yes the condenser must be raised to get off the hooks, the steel rusts and wedges itself into the plastic hooks, it can be a bastard to remove
 
got the tranny lines off?

for real i never seen any clips, unbolt the fans and the dog bone mounts and the two tranny lines and it came right out.

condenser was never a issue.
 
ScottyDoggs said:
got the tranny lines off?

for real i never seen any clips, unbolt the fans and the dog bone mounts and the two tranny lines and it came right out.

condenser was never a issue.
Click to expand...

on the 03 and older the condensor is sitting in rubber bushings, top and bottom and wedged into place by the radiator, problem is that takes time to install. 04+ they made the assembly line move faster since the condenser was no longer edged into place, it was "hung" onto the radiator as it was slid into plastic hooks integral to the radiator end tanks. you can put the older radiator and condensor/fan (cooling module) into the car, you just have to move the radiator hold down J clips to the outboard position and the 03 and older radiator mounts bolt right in.

if your replacing the radiator, just snap the hooks off.
 


I don't have any steel tabs on the passenger side, its just plastic hooks that sit in slots in the condensor. The driver side looks different and i can't get it unhooked
 
lol you didnt unbolt the clamp/retainer? (keeps the drivers side from slipping out of the tabs, gm was smart, they only used one fastener to hold em together for the assembly line dude to drop in.)

#12
0505162W01-020.JPG
 
Are talking about #5? I unbolted everything. I think the ac lines are getting caught on the radiator when I push up on the condesnor and its not allowing me to push it up far enough to get it unhooked.
 


I took out the bolt holding the bracket to the radiator in #12. I can slide the condenser up but its like its getting caught on something
 
you removed #11
not you must remove #12 from the condenser/car, THEN the condenser will slip up off the radiator.

that piece keeps it from moving upward
 
On my '04 I just broke off one of the plastic tabs. If you're already replacing the radiator, then braking part of it won't matter. Just easier to do this way. You won't damage the condenser at all. I found it helpful to remove the front bumper cover. Yes its more work but I found it helpful.
 
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