Rubbing fan blade

Hi and welcome to 2CarPros.

Check the following:

1) Is the blade bent?
2) Has the fan itself come loose?
3) Has the water pump bearing failed allowing excessive movement in the fan? Design / picture 1
4)Has the hub bearing gone bad on design 2 / picture 2?

Either something was bent, has come loose, or a bearing has failed. If you find the bolts have come loose, here are the directions for reinstalling. The directions include torque specs.

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INSTALLATION
1. Assemble fan blade to viscous fan drive. Tighten mounting bolts to 27 Nm (20 ft. Lbs.) Torque.
2. Position mounting flange of fan blade/viscous fan drive assembly onto hub. Install four nuts and tighten to 24 Nm (18 ft. Lbs.) Torque. Tighten the first two nuts 180 degrees apart. Then tighten last two nuts.

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Let me know what you find or if you have other questions. Also, make sure the fan clutch has not failed and is wobbling. With engine off, grab the fan blade and see if there is movement in and out or side to side. If there is, confirm where the play is coming from

Take care and if you get a chance, I would appreciate knowing what you find.

Joe
PS: It is not safe to drive it with the fan hitting. I assure you it is sparking, and if it breaks, it will damage other components.

Welcome back.

They are close, but should not touch. Hopefully, the belt was the cause. Regardless, if this was the first one, great job. And you are right. We learn by doing.

Take care and let us know if you have questions in the future.

Joe