fan clutch

I just replaced my water pump. (Thankyou to all who helped create one of the most helpful threads I've seen on that). The instructions recommend replacing the fan clutch to avoid premature wear on the new water pump. How important is this, really?

i believe the fan clutch is just before the water pump in the direction of rotation of the serpentine belt and could cause some bearing stress from bouncing due to binding or loading, but i've never heard of it before. your fan clutch should engage for a few seconds when first starting, then cut out until needed. have some one start the vehicle when cold while you watch the belt for bounce or slippage, if you don't see anything unusual i wouldnt worry about it.

How important is this, really?
Not needed, unless it feels sloopy or loose. Do a search on this board and you can find posts on how to check it out.