96 XJ with 4.0L and 303,000 miles.
Have the radiator out today to replace. Thought I would check the fan pulley bearing since to change it with the radiator in is a PITA. Seems OK to me.

I actually picked up a spare from a jy a while back just to have on hand if needed. These items are not cheap and easy to get at the local auto parts store like the idler pulley/bearing is. This fan bearing is actually integral to the A/C pump bracket.

To my knowledge these are not usually troublesome. Has anyone experienced a failure? What kind of miles are you seeing on these bearings?

BTW, the radiator is out because it failed at the lower right side tube-to-tank connection. Slight leak on at one of the tubes. A year and half old. Radiator Express aluminum heavy duty model. Cooled like a champ, but was disappointed in the failure. They sent me a new one under lifetime warranty.

 

I don't even know if the bearing itself can be changed, I know I have seen replacement bearings but it will likely take a hydraulic press to get it in/out of the bracket (it sits inside of the A/C bracket like you said)

At 270k miles, mine is still spinning smoothly and doesn't grind or anything. If you have a spare that is in better shape, you might as well replace it while everything is apart. I have never seen a post about that bearing failing now that you mention it.

The aluminum end-cap radiators tend to leak, I would guess that it is contamination in the welds causing a pinhole leak over time but not really sure. My Spectra generic replacement has been great for 2 years, no issues even wheeling in +100*F weather but additional cooling overhead would be nice at extreme temperatures - the XJ radiator is just slightly too small in my opinion.

 

You can replace the bearing. I dont recall the part number atm, but it was like $20-$30 IIRC. You will need a balljoint press.

Found it. Omix-Ada part #17104.83.

 

Thanks for the feedback. Maybe because they generally don't fail in the typical (long) life of an XJ that there was never an after market demand a supplier could justify.

And this recent leak was really annoying. VERY minor. In 1000 miles I would have to add a quart of coolant. Mostly I could never see it leaking. Just smelling it. Then as it cooled it would drip a bit.

 

Thanks. Good to know.