Brazing Aluminum

[Obsidian11]

As some of you know I had the unfortunate experience of wrecking the front end of my '00 GT 2 weeks ago. I'm almost done putting it back together, I just need to paint the new hood and '04 Cobra bumper cover I got for it. As luck would have it, I discovered that there is a small puncture wound on one of the tubes on the side of my A/C condenser Anyone here ever have any experience brazing aluminum? I was thinking of trying to just braze over the hole and cross my fingers because I'm broke and don't want to drop another 75 bucks on an aftermarket condenser. I'd much rather be able to repair it right on the car and not disturb any O-rings, or anything removing it.

Any suggestions???

 

[TheJ]

A small tac weld maybe. Or maybe try some aluminum solder. Like this: http://durafix.com/index.html You just have to be careful with the heat because you don't want to melt any o-rings. I personally haven't brazen any aluminum but I have sweated copper pipe and I would think its kinda the same.

 

[Jeff73Mach1]

I would replace it. An AC system that is contaminated needs to be thoroughly flushed and cleaned to prevent ruining the compressor seals and putting even more trash in the system. Trying to fix it may save a dollar up front and cost you ten in the long run.

 

[caspianwendell]

If you have a TIG welder you can fix it fairly easy but as Jeff said you will have a contaminated system that will need cleaned. But I will tell you if you have never welded aluminum it is tricky so practice first to get the heat right.

 

[Obsidian11]

Yeah, I know about the contamination deal...but I'm willing to take my chances for now and hope for the best. Call me stupid, but I'd be happy to get this summer out of the a/c and do it right when I get a job and can afford to do it right. If "right" means a new compressor at that point I'll deal with it then. I've got bigger fish to fry in my life right now. Worst case is it doesn't work and I still have no a/c, at least the car is still fast as hell and the windows work

 

[caspianwendell]

Then braze it up, vacuum it down for an hour and fill her up...chances are it will be fine...not like it has been open for years.

 

[Go Time]

I purchased some low heat alloy rods at a gun show of all things. They guy was filling holes in pop cans and it was slick. very low heat very fast flow. I have never used any(sucked in by the demonstration). If you want I could mail you a couple of rods and you could practice on a couple pop cans or old condenser. He claimed that these were designed for AC units. like I said never used them but I would be willing to send you a couple rods PM me and i'll mail them

 

[sm3570]

Yeah, I know about the contamination deal...but I'm willing to take my chances for now and hope for the best. Call me stupid, but I'd be happy to get this summer out of the a/c and do it right when I get a job and can afford to do it right. If "right" means a new compressor at that point I'll deal with it then. I've got bigger fish to fry in my life right now. Worst case is it doesn't work and I still have no a/c, at least the car is still fast as hell and the windows work

Didn't you get a job as the paint foreman for a heavy machinery shop or something?

 

[Obsidian11]

Yeah, I know about the contamination deal...but I'm willing to take my chances for now and hope for the best. Call me stupid, but I'd be happy to get this summer out of the a/c and do it right when I get a job and can afford to do it right. If "right" means a new compressor at that point I'll deal with it then. I've got bigger fish to fry in my life right now. Worst case is it doesn't work and I still have no a/c, at least the car is still fast as hell and the windows work

Didn't you get a job as the paint foreman for a heavy machinery shop or something?

Yup...didn't work out. Not at all what was advertised!

I purchased some low heat alloy rods at a gun show of all things. They guy was filling holes in pop cans and it was slick. very low heat very fast flow. I have never used any(sucked in by the demonstration). If you want I could mail you a couple of rods and you could practice on a couple pop cans or old condenser. He claimed that these were designed for AC units. like I said never used them but I would be willing to send you a couple rods PM me and i'll mail them

Thanks man! I actually bought something that sounds the same at my local harbor freight today. It's called alumiweld. Maybe gonna try it out tomorrow. If it doesn't work, I did find a used condenser at a local salvage yard for $50. The rods I bought were only $15, so if it doesn't work I haven't lost much, and I'm sure I'll find something around the house to use em on thanks again for the offer though! It's that kind of stuff that makes this site so awesome!

 

[Obsidian11]

Ok, that didn't seem to work :dodgy:

For 15 bucks it was worth a shot. Now I just need to decide whether to get the used one I found for $50 or the aftermarket one on ebay for $75 :huh:

 

[MotoArts]

From daily experiences... new aftermarket, hands down, no question.

I sell both at work (LKQ/Keystone). Lifetime warranted new is often less expensive than used in more ways than one.

 

[Obsidian11]

Finally got the new condenser. I used to work at LKQ/Keystone but left about a year ago because my regional manager was a prick!!! Luckily I still have a connection or 2 to people I liked and one of them hooked me up for 60 bucks...now we'll see if it'll hold a charge.