fan clutch bearing bracket noise - How long will it last? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

brooktre · #1 04-03-2007, 05:51 PM

My 300e started to make noise yesterday. Tracked it down to the fan clutch bearing bracket. Unfortuneately, I'm working about 250 miles from my tools (home) and won't be going there until Friday. The noise is very loud at start up, but then seems to almost go away shortly after warm up.

Does anyone have a guess (or any experience) on how long this might last?

A264172 · #2 04-03-2007, 06:16 PM

How much driving between now and then?

You could be ok till after you go home or it could go anytime.

With the engine off can you wiggle the clutch back and forth?.. how much play?

I think mine squeeled for over a week before it went. Its the kind of thing where you can limp home to a degree.

I can't remember exactly but I think it was squeeling constantly when I broke it down... ie don't take off the belt until you are ready to fix it because the belt kind of holds it together... Also if you let it go a little the front half of the bearing bracket wil pull right out with the clutch and fan attached.

brooktre · #3 04-03-2007, 06:29 PM

Only need to drive about 8 miles a day until Friday and then it's about 250 to get home. It does wiggle some. I think most of the noise is the plastic fan hitting a pully. This seems to quiet down quickly after about a minute of driving.

A264172 · #4 04-03-2007, 06:47 PM

Good luck.

The pulley is probably rubbing against something on the front of the block near the bottom right (facing from front of car) of it's travel. You will perhaps need to replace the pulley as well by the time you get home. 250 + is not a short drive. Do you have an auto club membership? You might want to call some local salvage yards and see if anyone has a bearing bracket and pulley assembly near you. Paying a shop to do it might be cheaper than getting stranded on the interstate.

brooktre · #5 04-08-2007, 08:10 AM

Made it home. The fan clutch bearing was shot. Replaced it yesterday. Only damage was a few nicks on the plastic fan blades which were hitting one of the pulleys.

t walgamuth · #6 04-08-2007, 10:41 AM

good deal.

tom w

latief · #7 10-25-2009, 02:06 AM

Did mine recently, very easy job. Remove belt, fan clutch, smog pump, and then bearing comes out easily,,,

Piece of advice though...don't buy an aftermarket part because the fitment is junk, I bought a URO parts bearing bracket for cheap. it broke on me while installing the smog pump, as it would not fit.....

long-gone · #8 10-26-2009, 01:51 AM

On a 91 330E, and probably other M103's, there is an O-ring that should be installed.

The Fan bearing bracket mounts to the upper timing cover. As you face the fan bearing bracket, the bottom right bolt (I believe it's the one that the bottom of the belt tensioner shock mounts to), goes through an enlarged hole in the timing cover. There may be a taper/chamfer at the opening on the t-cover and/or a step. This is where the O-ring goes (the bolt goes through it). At the MB parts counter this is called the "timing cover o-ring". I found that the O-ring didn't fit tight around the bolt at all and neither did it stick out past the t-cover surface far enough to make any kind of a seal. I read somewhere that you are supposed to use the black MB (or equivalent) sealant on the mating surfaces of the bracket and t-cover at that hole AND under the washer of the bolt on the outside as well. Failure to do this could result in an oil leak whose source is very hard to spot.