Looks like I'll be replacing my fan in the very near future.

[astronut74]

So I pulled over at a gas station today to check tire pressure, oil level... crap I really shoulda done BEFORE I left the house... well while checking the oil, I noticed that my fan bearing is shot...having never replaced a fan before, I was just checking my options...
Should I just replace the fan with another "stock" fan? Would it be more beneficial to swap to an electric fan? or can I just replace the bearings and save a few bucks?
Are there any special tools or pullers I'll need to replace the fan? Right now, the van is my only transportation, so I'll need to get it taken care of soon...
Here's a photo for you:
The "washer" you see on the fan shaft is the bearing seal...

And a short video showing the play the fan now has...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgktiaWqgnE

So, what are your thoughts? Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[astronut74]

Hmmm... the more I stare at the photo.. and looking at replacement fan clutches on Autozone.com , makes me wonder... Is it just the 4 bolts on the end of the crankshaft pulley that hold the fan/ fan clutch assembly on? Could it really be that easy and straight forward?

[rlsllc]

Yes, it's just that simple. 4 bolts (or nuts, actually) hold the clutch to the pump, and 4 more bolts hold the fan to the clutch.

[Smiliesafari]

And do yourself a big favor. DON'T buy the cheap clutch. The good ones have the thermostatic coil on the front.

[SoCalli V8]

+1 to what Skippy said.

[astronut74]

And do yourself a big favor. DON'T buy the cheap clutch. The good ones have the thermostatic coil on the front.

Um okay... idiot question... how will I know? the photos that I saw listed at autozone.com didn't show the front of them, so I didn't see any coil.. but from the side view, one of them had a "beefier" looking front I can only assume that's the correct one...
One of them didn't even look like the one I have... was for "without A/C" vans
One of them stated "value offering lighter than OEM".... Why the heck would anyone want anything less than OEM?? It was $55
The the last one... (Probably the right one) stated "premium offering heavier heavier in duty than the OEM part" It was $61

For only 6 bucks more it would only make sense to get that one... Or is there a particular brand I should get? These ones are made by Torqflo

[Smiliesafari]

Before you plunk down your money take the part out of the box and take a look. Stay away from anything from China.

[SoCalli V8]

Go for that heavier duty style, with AC, for your climate.

[LaGrasta]

thermostatic coil?
What does that do different than a non version?

[Smiliesafari]

It changes the speed of the fan relative to engine temp.

[astronut74]

Thanks for the info guys! I just got the fan clutch switched out today. I can tell you it wasn't "simple" though!! After 15 years, that fan clutch did NOT want to come loose! But nothing a big hammer couldn't fix... A few things I learned- even though I probably could of removed the fan clutch without removing the upper fan shroud, removing it made it a hundred times easier. Just because a company is in the United States, doesn't mean their products are made in the U.S. The TorqFlo brand, that I mentioned earlier in the thread, is owned by a company in Dallas, Tx But the part was made in China... So I took a trip to Advanced Auto to get a "made in the USA" part. And it cost the same amount of money.. And It's always good to have a helper... Here's mine:

Here's the new fan clutch:

And my boy bolting the fan shroud down:

[rlsllc]

That's great. I've got 4 myself. Better than anything.

I'll be getting myself one of those clutches, and a pump, for my '99. It is a dexcool victom and eats pumps. I'm going to do the acid flush on it tis week and prolly end up doing the intake gaskets too, and who know what else.

[Smiliesafari]

Good job. Little helpers are great. I had three. They're all grown up now.

[Rebel]

Good job. Little helpers are great. I had three. They're all grown up now.

Boy,, I sure miss the long nights with my Son out in the garage. Great to see you have him out there helping out. He'll always remember these times.

[astronut74]

Good job. Little helpers are great. I had three. They're all grown up now.

Boy,, I sure miss the long nights with my Son out in the garage. Great to see you have him out there helping out. He'll always remember these times.

Yeah, I'm lucky 'cause he loves this stuff (mostly I think he loves his "cool" safety glasses) He gets to help most anytime I work on the van.