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How to Repair a Computer Fan

If you have a computer fan that sounds like the bearing has been replaced with gravel, there may actually be a simple fix. All you need is a screw driver, a small pick, and some lubricant. In this instructable, I repair my GPU fan. However, the process should be nearly identical for any fan in your PC.

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Step 1Remove Fan

I repaired my GPU fan. First, find the screws holding the fan in place, and remove them so that you can access both sides of the fan freely. Now is a good time to clean up all the dust that's been collecting around the fan. Some canned air will work nicely.

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19 comments

Apr 4, 2011. 1:44 PMprule says:

Great tutorial. Very helpful. My GPU Cooler works like new. Thanks

Aug 1, 2010. 1:23 PMzack247 says:

would sewing maching lube work too?

Apr 30, 2010. 6:54 AMThe Lightning Stalker says:

If you can get in there and wipe the crud out the bearing, it works that much better.

Apr 6, 2010. 5:45 AMPunkguyta says:

Awesome to see someone else that figured out how to open computer fans right up!

Feb 17, 2009. 10:01 AMdjr6789 says:

great instructable! my servers cpu fan sounds like theres a gun fight goin on inside my pc lol

Oct 20, 2009. 8:04 PMSolderguy says:

That would be awesome! :D

Nov 10, 2009. 5:11 AMdjr6789 says:

or it could be all the dust mites having a nuclear war in there :O

Sep 8, 2008. 9:55 PMalex-sharetskiy says:

you should also blast the "fins" with compressed air to get the dust off

May 8, 2009. 10:12 PMDerin says:

For that I useubbing alcohol.

Mar 29, 2009. 3:59 PMrshino says:

thanks for this. i had a slow fan on a drive enclosure and the tip to take off the sticker was the one that set me up. thanks a lot.

Jan 31, 2009. 12:29 PMDerin says:

You can also use sewing machine oil on a Q-tip.But use no more than one drop for each part.Shaft gets one drop with Q-tip and bearing gets one drop straight from the bottle.

Sep 7, 2008. 9:22 AMScott_Tx says:

Use grease instead of oil and it'll last longer

Sep 7, 2008. 9:59 AMnachosyumm says:

Actually for computer fans oil would work better. In all reality, most computer fans will never really need any sort of lubrication. I've re-oiled the fans on my computer that runs 24/7 only once in the past 3 years

Sep 7, 2008. 10:32 AMScott_Tx says:

I've used oil and oil and oil and then switched to grease and never had to re-do them.

Sep 7, 2008. 3:55 PMnachosyumm says:

wow, how old and how often is your computer on?

Sep 6, 2009. 10:24 AMScott_Tx says:

My computer started with a 486 and its been upgraded a part here and a part there for 15 or so years. I think the floppy is still original. :P

Sep 7, 2008. 5:54 AMdanymw says:

correct: how to repair most GPU fans... any idea on normal,cpu or power supply fans?they sound like 7 years old vacuums(not pc's)...

Sep 7, 2008. 7:01 AMdamonkohler (author) says:

The process should be nearly identical for any fan in your PC. Just remove the fan, remove the sticker, remove the split ring, lubricate, and reassemble.

Sep 7, 2008. 9:55 AMdanymw says:

thanks for reply