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.

Step 1: Remove 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.

Comments

[makestructor]

What to do if there is no split ring?

[prule]

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

[zack247]

would sewing maching lube work too?

[The Lightning Stalker]

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

[Punkguyta]

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

[djr6789]

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

[Solderguy]

That would be awesome! :D

[djr6789]

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

[Sandisk1duo]

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

[Derin]

For that I useubbing alcohol.

[rshino]

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.

[Derin]

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.

[Scott_Tx]

Use grease instead of oil and it'll last longer

[nachosyumm]

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

[Scott_Tx]

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

[nachosyumm]

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

[Scott_Tx]

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

[danymw]

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)...

[damonkohler]

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.

[danymw]

thanks for reply