I'm refurbishing the entire a/c system on my 98 2.5. I've replaced the evaporator, orifice tube, hoses, condenser, accumulator, compressor, and switches. The original compressor had 402,000 miles on it and was still working. It had a leak I believe in the evaporator so I figured I'd just redo it all. Now I'm sorry I did because it was at least working for months. The condenser went in fairly easily but you had to install the studs for the a/c hose connections. I first got a significant leak at the high side connection right at the condenser. After fixing it and re-vacuuming and leak checking I had a low side leak but was stumped as to where so I charged a little bit and of course it was spewing out at the condenser to hose connection on the low side. I took it off checked for burrs or paint and cleaned it and used another new o-ring. I then re-vacuumed, leak checked and there was a little movement in the low side which I attributed to my manifold connections because I didn't think that the a/c hose to condenser should be leaking now. Sure enough it was spewing out freon/oil at the same low side connection when I charged with about one can. I don't know if the condenser is the problem or the hoses. I've never had problems with the aftermarket a/c hoses. I did get an a/c condenser that had an orifice tube in it for my Dodge Dakota which I didn't realize until I already charged it. I got this one from a a/c warehouse on ebay. I'm looking at the o-rings that came preinstalled on the hoses and they look too thin. I still have the original ones on my old hoses and they are flat on one side and they are blue. They look a lot thicker too. Wondering if it's because they're old or they're original. I don't want to keep wasting freon and oil. Is there any tips here? Where do you get the original Ford o-rings? I don't even see them listed anymore.

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1998 Ford Ranger XLT 2.5 4R44E Automatic Regular Cab, 4.10 non-limited slip
1993 Ford Ranger XLT 2.3 M5 Manual, Regular Cab, 3.45 non-limited slip