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Play In New Water Pump Bearing


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I bought a new water pump from Blunt for the tii about six months ago. It has less than 500 miles on it. When I was preparing to take the car to The Vintage and pulling the radiator out and in and taking the mechanical fan off and on, I noticed that the water pump bearing has noticeable play. A day before I thought I was leaving for The Vintage, I bought a new water pump at Bavarian to have one with me as a spare. But then I wound up driving the E9. While I was at The Vintage, I chatted with Steve Peterson about the water pump being defective, having play at 500 miles, and he said he / BMW would warranty the water pump and he'd send me another one. 

 

Today I pulled the water pump off the tii in preparation to send it back to Steve. I verified that there was play in the bearing. How much? Enough that, to me, it doesn't seem right. I'm used to grabbing the fan blades on an 02, moving them fore and aft, and not feeling ANY play.

 

Then I remembered I had the spare pump I'd bought from Bavarian. I pulled it out, and sure enough, I can feel play in the bearing, even when it's not installed in the car and there's not a fan on it. I stress that all of these water pumps are BMW-logo'd parts (I'm not sure there is another source for the tii water pump).

 

Then I took the original water pump -- the one that I'd pulled out six months ago -- and checked it. It feels like the bearing is a little scratchy, but I'm not feeling any play in it.

 

Anyone else have this experience of bearing play in a new water pump? How much is acceptable? "None" is the answer I've always used.

 

--Rob

 

The new book The Best Of The Hack Mechanic available at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0998950742, inscribed copies of all books available at www.robsiegel.com

1972 tii (Louie), 1973 2002 (Hampton), 1975 ti tribute (Bertha), 1972 Bavaria, 1973 3.0CSi, 1979 Euro 635CSi, 1999 Z3, 1999 M Coupe, 2003 530i sport, 1974 Lotus Europa Twin Cam Special (I know, I know...)

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The play is not necessarily in the bearing itself. It could be between the bearing and the shaft or the bearing and the pump housing. Not quite as bad, but not exactly ideal either.

 

 

No amount of skill or education will ever replace dumb luck
1971 2002 (much modified rocket),  1987 635CSI (beauty),  

2000 323i,  1996 Silverado Pickup (very useful)

Too many cars.

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