Richard Le
New member
How difficult is it to replace the fan clutch? Do you need a special tool to pull it? Thanks.
Replacing Fan Clutch
- Thread starter Richard Le
- Start date
sytyguy
Moderated User
Re: Replacing Fan Clutch
Nah, nothing special. I find it easier to break the clutch to water pump bolts loose if you leave the belt on to do so. Just grab a wrench (13MM I think) and break them loose about a 1/4-1/2 turn. Then remove the belt and finish taking the bolts out. You may need to rotate the clutch to reach the bottom bolts, and once all are out, just "bump" the clutch and it should unseat from the WP hub. Swap fan over to new clutch and reinstall. 30 minute job at most.
Once the fan assembly is off of the water pump, make sure the pump hub is healthy....you want the hub to be tight but still relatively easy to rotate by hand. If it's too tight or way too loose, go ahead and swap the water pump while you're in there. $20 and another 30 minutes of labor could save you from having a fan blade stuck through the hood of your truck.
Nah, nothing special. I find it easier to break the clutch to water pump bolts loose if you leave the belt on to do so. Just grab a wrench (13MM I think) and break them loose about a 1/4-1/2 turn. Then remove the belt and finish taking the bolts out. You may need to rotate the clutch to reach the bottom bolts, and once all are out, just "bump" the clutch and it should unseat from the WP hub. Swap fan over to new clutch and reinstall. 30 minute job at most.
Once the fan assembly is off of the water pump, make sure the pump hub is healthy....you want the hub to be tight but still relatively easy to rotate by hand. If it's too tight or way too loose, go ahead and swap the water pump while you're in there. $20 and another 30 minutes of labor could save you from having a fan blade stuck through the hood of your truck.
![Quickstop [UK]](/data/avatars/m/5/5165.jpg?1570199786){kind=avatar}
Quickstop [UK]
Combating adversyty.
Re: Replacing Fan Clutch
I like spring washers but to each their own...
I like spring washers but to each their own...
Richard Le
New member
Re: Replacing Fan Clutch
Thanks for the replies. Does anyone know the correct GM or AC Delco part # for the fan clutch? I found AC Delco #AC1540109, but I'm not sure if it's the right one to order.
Thanks for the replies. Does anyone know the correct GM or AC Delco part # for the fan clutch? I found AC Delco #AC1540109, but I'm not sure if it's the right one to order.
warmpancakes
New member
Re: Replacing Fan Clutch
also look into swapping for the later model astro van 7 blade fan mush quieter and moves more air
also look into swapping for the later model astro van 7 blade fan mush quieter and moves more air
NJ93TY
Donating Member
Re: Replacing Fan Clutch
Use this one... Better then the 7-blade one.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/01-0...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
Use this one... Better then the 7-blade one.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/01-0...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
warmpancakes
New member
NJ93TY
Donating Member
ZavzTy547
Senior Member
Re: Replacing Fan Clutch
Rich, I have a spare stock fan and a couple of oem clutches.
LMK if you need it...
Z
Rich, I have a spare stock fan and a couple of oem clutches.
LMK if you need it...
Z
warmpancakes
New member
Re: Replacing Fan Clutch
yep just replaces the blade
yep just replaces the blade
Emmo
Member
Re: Replacing Fan Clutch
Hayden seems ok so far...got it at Pepboys in August. Used locktite on nuts and old fan. Also replaced water pump while at it and radiator.
My biggest question to my buddies was how to truly tell if the 20 year old fan clutch was shot or working. Most guessed it would be hard to turn at first (whine we hear at start-up) then easy (engine warming up) then hard when it heats up fully? I couldn't tell so replaced. I also tried to test old one when I turned the internal valve and spring of the clutch and it spun with the same resistance. New clutch did turn harder with valve manually turned.
Hayden seems ok so far...got it at Pepboys in August. Used locktite on nuts and old fan. Also replaced water pump while at it and radiator.
My biggest question to my buddies was how to truly tell if the 20 year old fan clutch was shot or working. Most guessed it would be hard to turn at first (whine we hear at start-up) then easy (engine warming up) then hard when it heats up fully? I couldn't tell so replaced. I also tried to test old one when I turned the internal valve and spring of the clutch and it spun with the same resistance. New clutch did turn harder with valve manually turned.
Richard Le
New member
Re: Replacing Fan Clutch
Thanks Zav. Unfortunately, I have already ordered the fan and the clutch before I saw your post.
sytyguy
Moderated User
Re: Replacing Fan Clutch
The old trick for testing fan clutch weakness was to take a piece of cardboard (like the top of a case of oil) and fold it in half (quite rigid). If you could stop the fan blade with the cardboard at idle, replace the clutch. However, this method has so many obvious problems (safety for one) that it's not so much a recommended method anymore.
The old trick for testing fan clutch weakness was to take a piece of cardboard (like the top of a case of oil) and fold it in half (quite rigid). If you could stop the fan blade with the cardboard at idle, replace the clutch. However, this method has so many obvious problems (safety for one) that it's not so much a recommended method anymore.