Water pump - Replace now or wait?

[japickar]

I will be changing the belts and hoses and flushing my cooling system on my 1008 this weekend (hopefully). To my knowledge there is nothing wrong with the water pump at this time (leaks, bearings, etc). For all I know it may last another 50,000 miles, but I cannot bring myself to fully trust a (potentially) 25 year old water pump. I figured now would be a good time to replace it since I will have the system drained anyway, but at the same time I don't want to go to all of the trouble replacing a good part. Just looking for opinions on whether or not I sould change it now or wait until it goes.

 

[Ken_86gt]

If you have the time any money I reccomend that you change it if only for peace of mind. There is no way I know of to predict the failure of it. Sounds like a good time with all of the other work you are doing.

 

[DokWatson]

If it ain't broke don't fix it.

 

[kassim503]

+1 if it aint broke dont fix it, pulling all the belts off again to change a weeping pump isnt all that bad.

 

[ralbelt]

If your going to have the rad out,hoses, & water pump you might as will as do the harmonic balancer while you have all that room to work.

 

[DokWatson]

If your going to have the rad out,hoses, & water pump you might as will as do the harmonic balancer while you have all that room to work.

Why stop there, going to have all that out do the timing chain too.

 

[japickar]

Well I guess I will take my chances with it for now. I don't think I have that much spare time do to everything that is being suggested all at once. I still have more urgent needs that need to be addressed on the truck. When the water pump does go though I guess I will take a look at all of the surrounding parts.

 

[ralbelt]

 

[kassim503]

Remember, part of the OD disease is the constant need to update the truck to brand new specs. We all want our MV's to have brand new everything, but realistically, they just need a little PMCS, and a nice grocery getting mission once in a while to keep them chugging.

 

[jdemaris]

Well I guess I will take my chances with it for now. I don't think I have that much spare time do to everything that is being suggested all at once. I still have more urgent needs that need to be addressed on the truck. When the water pump does go though I guess I will take a look at all of the surrounding parts.

The water pump has one sealed ball-bearing assembly in it. It dries ou slowly, gets play, and eventually gets so loose that the water-seal starts to leak.

If, with the belts off, the shaft turns smooth and has no play - you've got nothing to worry about. Good for at least another 0K miles and maybe much more.

As to the the timing chain? I've never seen one go bad yet in a 6.2. I've got one that blew to pieces at 520,000 miles. When I stripped the engine for parts, I checked the original chain for wear. It had 3/4" side-slack which is within factory wear limits. A brand new chain with new gears will have 1/2" side slack, and GM allows up to 8/10"

I just pulled the oil pan off an 86 I have with 220,000 miles. It had a blown rear-main seal. While in there, I reached up and measured the timing chain slack. It was 9/16" That is almost the spec for new which is impressive at 220,000 miles.

 

[japickar]

Remember, part of the OD disease is the constant need to update the truck to brand new specs. We all want our MV's to have brand new everything, but realistically, they just need a little PMCS, and a nice grocery getting mission once in a while to keep them chugging.

I admit that I am bad about wanting to replace all of the minor things that I find wrong with the truck as well as other thingsof mine. I have to remind myself that this is a 25 year old truck that I bought to play in the woods with and was never intended to be put back to perfect condition.