fan clutch removal

[dubyehnel]

Ok I think I'm having a mental block. I'm trying to take off the fan clutch and when I try to remove the 4 nuts, everything just turns with it. I pushed down on the belts to try and hold things in place, but the pulley just spins underneath the belts. Tips?

 

[Corbet]

I had to give my wrench a quick hard push (like an impact wrench would) in order to get them to break loose. Or the same happend to me. You could also give them a shot of penetrating oil in advance.

 

[GXO]

yep, and you will probably unscrew the stud when you use the hitting method too. Make sure you reseat the studs properly with some lock tite if they do come out.

 

[landtank]

I take a larger screw driver and wedge it in the nut/Stud next to the one I'm loosening to hold the pulley in place. Once I've broken all 4 free I then take them the rest of the way off.

 

[dubyehnel]

problem... one of the 4 nuts in entirely rounded off. Um...HELP!

 

[Rookie2]

First off, use a 6 point socket for nuts that small.

Have you tried clamping a set of vice grips on the nut to turn it off? Usually that will get it. If that doesn't work, you could get a nut splitter to get it off, or just cut the nut and stud off with a dremel and replace the two.


Rookie2

 

[Lugboot]

I hit all four nuts with PB blaster a couple times before even trying and then was able to break them loose by leaning on the belts to hold the pulley and using a box end wrench.

 

[landtank]

problem... one of the 4 nuts in entirely rounded off. Um...HELP!

time for a chisel.

 

[stayalert]

time for a chisel.

maybe dremel a slot into the rounded not and use an offset (rt. angel) screw driver?

or dremel some opposing flats for vise grip purchase.

 

[landtank]

just to be clear, I take a 12" long chisel and place it on the side of the nut with the blade parallel to the stud so as I drive it into the nut it also is spinning the nut. Once you get a good bite you will be able to walk the nut off of the stud.

 

[Atticus]

I just changed my fan clutch yesterday. I used the screwdriver method as well, but found that I could also get the nuts started off by giving the six-point wrench a tap with a hammer. Broke them free on the spot.

 

[dubyehnel]

Alright thanks goodness. I just found some low profile damaged bolt remover things and that got it off. I had soaked the nuts in pb blaster and used the pry method. That worked for 3 out of the 4. Now I'm gonna have to go find another nut that will replace the damaged one. Hardware store?

 

[EricE]

I always try toyota first for nut/bolt replacement. A store with a good supply of metric nuts/bolts is hard to come by.

 

[Atticus]

I always try toyota first for nut/bolt replacement. A store with a good supply of metric nuts/bolts is hard to come by.

Or you could do what I do:


Go to Home Depot with one of the other nuts and find one just like it. seems to work for me.

 

[landtank]

I think these nuts are a jamb type nut and I doubt that a common hardware store will have them. But they are readily available at fastener stores.

 

[Atticus]

I think these nuts are a jamb type nut and I doubt that a common hardware store will have them. But they are readily available at fastener stores.

Good to know. I had no problem getting mine off, so I didn't have to experiment.