BMW Viscous Clutch Fan removal

Tiny
REPOMAN
  • MEMBER
  • BMW 525
I need to replace my fan clutch on my 1993 BMW 525IT, 2.5, 6cyl. The 32mm nut that attaches to the water pump is left hand thread. I cannot find a way to break the nut loose as the water pump turns and the fan clutch wont engage at all. I tried holding the crank shaft nut but didn't help as the water pump still spins. How do I get the fan clutch nut loose?
Wednesday, April 25th, 2007 AT 12:19 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
Takes a special set of wrench's. See if your local autozone or the such rents tools, they might have one that will work
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Wednesday, April 25th, 2007 AT 4:02 PM
Tiny
REPOMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I have the narrow 32mm wrench that comes in the kit but still do not know how to keep the water pump fropm turning so the nut will break loose.
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Wednesday, April 25th, 2007 AT 4:41 PM
Tiny
GLENNPOLLARD
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The viscous fan is difficult to remove unless you can lock the pulley. To do this find a small spanner that can engage between tow of the four small pulley bolts. Rotate the pulley clockwise until this spanner locks against the lower crank pulley. With the fan pulley locked in this way you should be able to use the 32mm spanner to undo the viscous fan bolt (NB: it is a left hand thread but does undoe failry easily!)
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Wednesday, June 20th, 2007 AT 8:04 AM
Tiny
AUTOBAHNPARTS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
The special tool needed to keep the water pump from turning looks like a big wrench. It makes contact with the 4 nuts on the pully and keeps it from truning while you twist the fan clutch off. The best thing to do if you don't have that tool is hit your 32mm wrench with something to shock the bolt. 80% of the time this works. Matco makes a very cool new tool that works on the end of an air hammer. It has a 32mm open end on the end of a 12inch rod that pivots sideways, works every time.
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Tuesday, September 4th, 2007 AT 4:53 PM

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