Condenser installation tips

[Evildeli]

I'm replacing the condenser this weekend. Does anyone have any tips that can help?

[WelmoedJ]

In another thread we discussed exchanging the fans (Electrical - Radiator fans, low amperage options).
You need to go a bit further and take out the radiator too.

To do so you at least have to drain the coolant, disconnect the hoses, sway bar mounts and take off the radiator/condensor assembly.

This is more or less the job in a nutshell.

[Morpheus]

According to the workshop manual, this can be done without draining the cooling system. It will require the removal of the sway bar, shroud, and radiator mounts, however.

[DMCMW Dave]

According to the workshop manual, this can be done without draining the cooling system. It will require the removal of the sway bar, shroud, and radiator mounts, however.

True. You just need to be careful not to let the studs on the condener put some extra holes in the radiator.

[DMCBRANDON5873]

Looking forward to meeting you guys tomorrow, I got some little things to tinker on my car too if we get around to it.

[Evildeli]

Thanks for the tips everyone. I made sure that when we pulled the condenser out that my hand was a buffer with the top studs. We also did the job without removing the radiator, although we sat for a bit and talked about the pros and cons of removing everything. Taking out the hour lunch, the job took about 3-4 hours. I'm sure if I did it again I could get it down to 2-3.

[Nicholas R]

I did this last weekend. I honestly recommend just dropping the entire assembly; especially if you're going to be disconnecting the condenser hoses. I think it makes everything a whole lot easier. You have to remove the big shroud anyway. Then just remove the brackets from the crumple zone, the two angular brackets going to the top of the radiator, the 2 large radiator hoses and one small hose, the 2 condenser hoses, unplug the fans, and the whole thing will drop out.

I had mine out to do my fans but while it was down I went ahead and replaced the rivets in the condenser brackets and replaced two of the broken studs with bolts.

EDIT: oops, just read that you already did the job. Congrats!