My wifes daily driver a 03 Town&Country 3.8l minivan with 160k miles decided to act up on the hottest day so far this year. The A/C worked fine until today it made a funny noise when it was turned on and it just blew warm air. After investigating I found the rubber isolator (just like the rubber isolator on a crankshaft damper) on the clutch disinagrated. A new clutch costs $120 and a new compressor with clutch costs $225. Since the center bolt on the clutch still spins freely I am pretty sure the comprerssor is still good, I think it is a nippendenso style. My question is with the age and miles am I better off changing the whole compressor and have the system recharged or just put a new clutch on the current compressor.

I've done several clutch assys replaceemnts without replacing the comp.

I would just replace the clutch.

I just did an AC clutch on the wife's 2006 liberty yesterday. In her case the electromagnet failed so a lot of unpressing, prying, banging, but got it done.

If yours is just the clutch plate on the front you got it easy. Keep in mind too that a compressor replacement requires evacuation of the system and a professional recharge after you install new compressor.

Replace the clutch plate.