MotorGround >> Need A/C help

I have a 2003 Ford Excursion V10. The A/C has stopped working. I took it to a shop and they wanted to charge a little over $800 to fix. This is way too much for me, but we need the A/C.

I'm contemplating doing the repairs myself. I am mechanically inclined; I just have never done A/C work.

To save money I have read about people replacing:

1.     Compressor

2.     Accumulator

3.     Orifice Tube

Then they take it to a shop to have them vacuum and fill the system.

Does this all sound good?

Thoughts on flushing? Do you flush, and then change Orifice Tube? Does the system need to be vacuumed after a flush, but before replacing the orifice tube?