On changing my alternator the other day and checking other pulleys with the belt off, I noticed my fan pulley bearing is slightly noisy when spun, and reading some of the horror stories about these failing suddenly and as I'm nearly at 140,000 miles, I'm going to replace it soon.
I'm guessing not, as I haven't seen it mentioned, and haven't had a good look yet- but is there any way of taking the whole assembly (bracket/idler/clutch & pulley) off in one go, since the fan itself is easy to remove... or are some of the bolts for the bracket hidden by the pulley? Seems like it would be easier than taking off the pulley assembly first with the pain in the ar$e that is the locking tool etc...

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1993 320TE M104
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past:

1983 230E W123 M102
1994 E300D S124 OM606 (x2)
1967 250SE W108 M129
1972 280se 3.5 W108 M116
1980 280SE W116 M110
1980 350SE W116 M116
1992 300E W124 M103
1994 E280 W124 M104
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"music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business" -Pepys