How to Remove the Fan Clutch Assembly From a 1997 Chevy Suburban

Way back in 1936, Chevrolet took a panel truck, carved some windows in its cargo area, then added some seats. Chevy dubbed this new creation the Suburban, and the name and vehicle continues strong, as of 2012. The 1997 Suburban came standard with a 255-horsepower, 5.7-liter V-8 engine. The fan clutch regulated the rotational speed of the fan by engaging and disengaging as the engine temperature increased and decreased. When the clutch finally fails -- it can fail in nearly any engagement position -- your vehicle may experience overheating or even overcooling. Removing the fan clutch on the 1997 Suburban is a straightforward task, but it requires one special tool.

Instructions

Park the Suburban on a flat surface and kick wheel chocks under its rear wheels. Unscrew the radiator cap from the radiator. Lift the front of the SUV with a floor jack and slide jack stands under its frame rails. Lower the vehicle onto the jack stands.

Crawl under the front of the SUV until you have a clear look at the base of the radiator. Find the drain cock on the bottom of the radiator and position a drain pan under it. Open the drain cock, by turning its thumbscrew counterclockwise. After about 1 inch of coolant drains into the drain pan, close the drain cock.

Lift the SUV off the jack stands, remove the jack stands and lower the Suburban to the ground.

Loosen the hose clamp on the radiator end of the upper radiator hose by squeezing its ears together with a hose clamp, then slide the hose clamp about three inches toward the engine. Pull the upper radiator hose from the radiator with a slight twisting motion.

Remove the two bolts securing the fan shroud to the upper radiator support, using a ratchet and socket. Remove the four bolts securing the upper fan shroud to the lower fan shroud, then remove the upper fan shroud.

Unscrew the fan clutch nut from the fan clutch by turning it counterclockwise, using fan clutch wrench No. J41240, or equivalent, and a breaker bar. Remove the fan and clutch from the engine compartment as one assembly.

Secure the clutch in a soft-jawed vise and remove the four fan-to-clutch bolts, using a ratchet and socket. Remove the clutch from the vise and carefully secure the new clutch in the vise. Set the fan on the fan clutch and align the bolt holes. Hand-tighten the fan-to-clutch bolts, then torque them to 17 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and socket.

Guide the fan and clutch back into the engine compartment and thread the clutchs nut to the water pump pulley. Tighten the nut to 41 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and fan clutch wrench.

Reinstall the fan shroud and hand-tighten its six retaining bolts. Tighten the four bolts to 71 inch-pounds, using an inch-pound torque wrench and socket.

Press the upper radiator hose back onto the inlet on the radiator. Slide the hose clamp to within 1/2-inch of the upper radiator hoses end, using slip-joint pliers.

Pour 50-50 premixed Dex-Cool coolant into the radiator until the level is within 1/2-inch of the filler neck. Start the engine and allow it to idle until it reaches operating temperature. Allow the engine to continue idling, filling the coolant to within 1/2-inch of the filler neck, if the level drops. Once the level remains steady in the radiator, tighten the radiator cap on the radiator.

Take any old coolant to an automotive fluid recycler. Some auto parts stores take old fluids for free.