Changing bearing of HVAC blower motor
 

Hi,my HVAC blower motor started to make cliking noises at low speed. I took the time to remove it and check what was making the racket. I dissassemble it to check the bearing. Here is what's inside in case someone wants to repair it.

WARNING: although I changed both bearings for new one, the motor now shows unbalance noise. I'll be replacing it entirely since I can't figure out what's wrong. There's a good chance you'll screw up yours too.

Standard disclaimer: I'm not responsible if you screw up something. This info is given out of good will, to the best of my knowledge. I'm not a profesionnal, only an amateur. Don't come to cry if you burn your car down and your wife leaves with the kid

Tools needed:
- 2 608 grade bearing. Bearings WILL get DESTROYED in the process. Make sure to have new one before you start. OEM one were 608DW made by NSK. See last picture
- Vise grips
- 8mm socket or T20 torks short screwdriver
- Philips screwdriver
- 15mm socket to drive new bearing in
- Small hammer or BFH with light touch
- Vise
- Grease to ease bearin install
- 1 screw head
- 1 Metal punch or ¼" metal rod


Removing the blower from the car. No picture here. It's very easy. If you can't figure this out, stop here and refer to a professional
- It's under the front passenger dash, no need to remove the glove box
- Undo the electric wire
- Undo the 3 "8mm nut/ T20 nut/Flathead nut". Yes, theres 3 possibility for the heads.
- You'll end up with the 1st picture

Removing the fan. No pictures
- Turn it so the fan is down, black plastic up. There is a small round black circle sticker. It hide the end of the motor shaft. Remove it.
- Place the fan assembly in the vise, fan down and free to move.
- Hammer down the motor's shaft gently with the rod or punch.
- This will remove motor from the assembly with the fan attached.

Separating the fan.
- Place the fan on top of the vise, with the motor below.
- Hammer the shaft gently so the motor drops down

Separating the rotor from stator
- Now pry open the 4 tabs that holds the top and bottom of the motor. I used vise grips to do it but a flathead screwdriver and hammer will work too.
- Now pull apart the rotor from stator
- Don't loose the spring at the botton of the motor, it's under the bearing.

Removing bearing
- BEFORE removing bearing, mark where the copper coil assembly is at top and bottom. This assembly will move on the shaft when you hammer the bearings out.The best would be scratching the shaft as a Sharpie Pen will get erased when the coil moves along the shaft.
- Mark the positions of the bearing on the shaft
- Hold the bearing in the vise and hammer the shaft down. They were quite hard to hammer out. Bearings WILL get DESTROYED in the process. Make sure to have new one.

Putting new bearings in
- Lightly grease the shaft to ease installation
- Use the 15mm long socket to hammer the new bearings in.

Replace the coil assembly
- Make sure to support only the metal sheets in the vise and that the coil won't get smashed.
- Lightly hammer the shaft to move the coil assembly to it's place.
- Don't forget to replace the bottom bearing before reassembly.
- Test fit the rotor in the stator. Verify that the brushes contact the rotor in the right place.
- Check for end play.
- Check that the bottom of the shaft clears the plastic assembly where there was the small black circle sticker. It must not protrude
- Take the rotor out, adjust if necessary
- Bend back the 4 tabs with the vise grips when OK

Replace the fan
- Put back the motor in the black plastic assembly
- Take the screw and put it in the vise so only the head protrude. This will support the shaft when hammering the fan
- Lube the shaft
- Hammer the fan with the 15mm socket.
- Hammer the retaining plastic gizmo with the 15mm socket.

And now you have a more noisy fan! Order a new one! I found :

- VDO (part# PM4061)
- 4seasons (code 76934)
- Subaru Code (72223AJ030)
- Toyota Code (SU00302079)

how did this work out for you? i just started getting this whirl and hissing from the passanger side. im pretty sure this is what happened to me but i dont want to bring it to the shop or diy it unless it solves the issue and doesnt make more

Thanks for the pics. There is a flap that can be opened without removing the entire assembly. You could spray some grease up in there. I removed mine before finding the flap. Might be a first try.

is there a guide or thread for this? very curious!