Even a totally missing bearing wouldn't let a rod hit the pan, and the noise from a bearing that loose would sound like somebody inside with a sledgehammer trying to beat his way out. Use a carpenter's square or something similar to measure the distance the rod drops below the pan rail, and then compare that dimension to the depth of the pan. I'm pretty sure you're going to find the pan is bent- - - - -possibly by somebody putting a jack in the wrong place when changing a tire, etc.
Jerry
