I have an '86 300E w124, and yesterday the fan went crazy on me.

When I looked under the hood, there were metal shavings all around as the fan clutch pulley is loose and it is grinding against the crankshaft pulley. At first I thought it was the water pump, b/c even the screw is called the "fan clutch to water pump" screw, but the water pump is on another pulley altogether. My guess is that it's something w/ the fan clutch (unless the screw is just loose, which is doubtful).

What thinks you? Would a problem w/ the fan clutch cause it to be loose like that? And if so, what am I going to need to fix it besides the fan clutch?

Thank you!

figured it out - ordered the fan clutch and the pulley, turns out it took the fan bearing bracket with it also, so ordered it and will be putting the whole thing together on Friday!