In this paper, the dynamic behavior of the slider-crank mechanism with clearance fault is investigated. The revolute joint with clearance is equivalent to a virtual massless rod, and then the dynamic equation of the crank slider mechanism with clearance is established by the Lagrangian method. In addition, a three-dimensional dynamic model of the crank slider mechanism with clearance is also established by ADAMS. The numerical results show that the clearance affects the displacement and velocity response of the crank-slider mechanism in a weak way, but influences the acceleration response of the mechanism in a significant manner. Due to the existence of the clearance, the revolute joint of the mechanism produces a rub-impact phenomenon, and the larger the clearance, the greater the impact strength. During the rub-impact process, there are three kinds of motion states of separation, collision and contact occur.