water pump installation

[9430250]

Planning on replacing mine tomorrow. After 161,000 miles it is beginning to leak around the seal. What all do I need? I have done a search but have not found a conclusive list of things needed. Also on a scale of 1 to 10 (one being the easiest) how do you rate the difficulty.

Thanks
Jon

 

[red94fiveo]

Here is a very short list:

Coolant
Water Pump gasket
It might may to check your hoses and replace them if needed.

It shouldn't be too hard, just remember where everything goes, write yourselfnotes and diagrams if need me, you should be fine.

 

[smokediver27]

And from what I've heard, be careful about putting the right bolts back in the right holes. Mine went on pretty easy, and my mechanic skills are very poor. Someone told me that if you put one of the longer bolts in the short bolt holes and crank down too hard on it, you can do damage to the block. If your thermostat is old, I'd pop a new one in there too while the system is drained.

 

[9430250]

what about tools, what size bolts are they? Do you need a breaker bar or impact wrench?

 

[9430250]

do you need to remove anything else, other than the belt and old waterpump? How much coolant do you lose?

 

[red94fiveo]

I used a breaker bar to get all the bolts out, but you shouldn't need an impact. None of the bolts on mine were anything too difficult, and none are terribly hard to get too. Just take a piece of cardboard or somthing and stick the bolts in there as you take them out, so you get the right bolts back in the right holes.

 

[smokediver27]

I pulled my whole radiator to give me some more space, if youre changing your pump, it's a good time for a fresh refill in my opinion. Bolts should come of with some muscles and a good wrench. Also, I rate the difficulty about a 3.

 

[9430250]

thanks everybody

 

[Black70Fastback]

by the way, if the coolant is good, you can just drain it into a clean bucket and reuse it. Also, remember to silicone it or you may have a leak.