[87 124] Do I need to do something about my fan? It just ate my radiator. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

aaa · #1 04-05-2011, 04:53 PM

So there's this gnarly intersection near my house, and I ended up slamming on the brakes for some reason or other.

Somehow this resulting in the fan and radiator getting know each other better.

I had already replaced the radiator once due to it meeting some debris from below. The radiator support was also hit by said debris.

It doesn't really look like they're that close though:

I got a new one on order (may as well be Behr this time since there's only a $10 difference). Should I do something about the fan, or take a hammer to the radiator support, or what?

kerry · #2 04-05-2011, 04:59 PM

Or check your motor and transmission mounts?

04 Diesel · #3 04-05-2011, 05:00 PM

I have heard when motor mounts go bad the fan hits the radiator.

babymog · #4 04-05-2011, 05:10 PM

Be sure your engine and trans mounts are in good shape, and also that the bottom radiator mount hasn't been hit which will push it upward and rearward (common from parking/curb hits). I believe that the top edge of your radiator is sitting up a little high in comparison to the upper radiator cross-brace, can't be sure from the photo though.

aaa · #5 04-05-2011, 05:15 PM

The motor mounts are new. The radiator support is definitely damaged. Maybe I'll take a sledge to it this time.

Oddly enough the impact was on the passenger side of the radiator, not on the top.

JHZR2 · #6 04-05-2011, 05:48 PM

sounds like a collapsed engine mount to me...

babymog · #7 04-05-2011, 07:00 PM

or a loose transmission mount.

JohnM. · #8 04-05-2011, 07:03 PM

Looks like the radiator is sitting exactly where it should be to me. I will third the engine mount/transmission mount. Sometimes the replacement motor mounts don't last more than 2-3 years. Nothing else would cause the fan to meet the rad during hard braking.

layback40 · #9 04-05-2011, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnM.

Looks like the radiator is sitting exactly where it should be to me. I will third the engine mount/transmission mount. Sometimes the replacement motor mounts don't last more than 2-3 years. Nothing else would cause the fan to meet the rad during hard braking.

X4 on a mount problem. best leave the sledge hammer out of it for now.

Aquaticedge · #10 04-05-2011, 08:17 PM

I've hit tons of bumps with my 87. only time I ate a rad is when my mounts were shot, my trans mount especially. It came out in 2 pieces.

vstech · #11 04-05-2011, 10:49 PM

Whunter recommends the Nissens radiator for the 87's. better cooling design he says.
I trust him totally.
make sure your fan clutch has not grenaded. if the fan tilts some it can hit... gotta go with everyone else here. no way damaged rad support is causing rad to hit fan under braking... mass pushes forward, not back when you stop... gotta be the engine sliding forward into the rad.
unless your crosmember is damaged and letting the entire setup slide...

sjh · #12 04-05-2011, 10:55 PM

I had the same problem in my w210. The radiator had been pushed in from too many parking attempts where the curb hit the car (by PO). I've never seen it in a w124 though. I bent the rad mounts out and it's been fine since.

jonbobshinigin · #13 04-06-2011, 10:59 AM

I hit a huge bump a while back and it bent my radiator support in and blew my radiator out...it did not cause interference, but it was definitely off by a couple of inches. I pulled up facing a telephone pole, got some chains and straps and slowly pulled it back into shape. I would not go beating it with a hammer myself. And if the radiator is out, you can heat each of the joints up and pull each side.