I have everything off and I noticed the bearing for the fan clutch is grinding. Sounds toast to me....Does anyone here know if it requires that entire assembly to be replaced or can I just replace the bearing at the front?

Maybe that is the reason my fan clutch is not engaging?

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2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

Yep, it's toast. You can see all the grease has escaped and the bearing was running dry.






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Question still stands though...Do you guys think that could have been the reason my viscous fan was not engaging?

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2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

It's a fan clutch bearing bracket, and must be replaced as a unit; at least I never found a way to get the bearing out. It's not just a std replaceable bearing, but appears specially made, and pressed into the bracket unit. Pretty expensive, over $150 for the last one I bought several years ago.
No, this will not affect your fan clutch, other than making it wobble maybe.
Notice the fan/clutch unit bolts onto the bearing race of this unit, but the clutch operates independant of this bearing.
So, you may have to buy both to get everything working properly.

DG

Thanks. I want to get the car back on the road today, so I bought the assembly. $135 Febi-Bilstein. Looks and feels good quality.
Oh well it is what it is. New one is beautiful

Now that I have my replacement viscous fan clutch bolted on, it has significantly more resistance to spinning when cold when compared to the old one. I could spin the old one 5/6 of a turn, this one 1/4 tops.

__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

Yep, the entire bracket assembly must be replaced as a unit. Had this done last week on my 22 y/o 124. MSRP for the OE part is $254. The upside is that the cabin will seem sooooo quiet afterward. Amazing how much noise was being transmitted into the car from that old bearing.

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1988 California version 260E (W124)
Anthracite Grey/Palomino
Owned since new and still going strong and smooth
MBCA member

Past Mercedes-Benz:
1986 190E Baby Benz
1967 230 Inherited from mom when she downsized
1959 220S Introduced me to the joys of keepin' 'em goin'

There are only 10 kinds of people in the world--those who understand binary and those who don't

Success! The fan clutch is engaging! The old one must have been dead for sure. It does seem quieter too although I never noticed it before so it may just be in my head.

Now I have peace of mind I have some additional cooling.

__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k