Technician Handbook Air Conditioning for Collision Repair Quick Disconnect A quick-disconnect type fitting uses a plastic clamp lock to connect the tube endings. • This type of fitting is threadless. • One tube end has an O-ring that fits into a mating tube end. • The plastic clamp keeps the tube ends together to create a leak-free seal. To service the system (e.g. evacuating the system — the system must be empty), a special remover tool is used to release the clamp.
NOTE With threaded or threadless tube fittings, in order to ensure the proper seal under high system pressures and temperatures, A/C O-rings rest within a machined area instead of just being compressed between two surfaces like a common gasket. In order to ensure a correct seal, the O-ring must be the correct one. An O-ring that looks about right may make a joint impossible to assemble without damage or may result in a leak. O-rings should be lubricated with the correct system refrigerant oil to prevent nicks or scratches during assembly. 16 Collision Repair & Refinish Training