While I replace my oil pan I want to replace the water pump (slow steady coolant loss, not burning it, no leaks, new hoses and the heater core is good.) I've narrowed it down to two new pumps, Cardone from Rock Auto and a GMB from AZ. Does anyone have experience with these brands? Quality? Are any of these parts even made in the USA?? Thanks!
Replacement water pump quality.
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GMB is considered one of the good quality aftermarket. I would recommend it over Cardone
I put a Duralast water pump from Autozone on my truck about 6 weeks ago. No problems with it at all, it is built very well and also is made here in the USA.
I had originally bought a new Napa water pump, because they are said to be better than other brands. It was not. It had a bad problem with the machining on the inside of the pump where the heater bypass tube is mounted. It was very rough and had sharp edges down in the mounting hole, like the drill used to machine the hole wallered out and messed up the inside walls of the mounting hole. This chewed up the o-ring on the new bypass tube I installed, causing a very bad leak. Terrible lack of quality control on the Chinese-made Napa pump. So I had to remove the pump, run around to 2 different Napa stores trying to get it replaced and the replacement pump they wanted to give me had the same problem. I returned the Napa pump and bought the Duralast pump.
Not meaning to rant here but I had to R&R my water pump twice, buy another gallon of coolant, plus I had to buy another heater bypass tube and I had to get that from the Dodge dealer because the bypass tube from Napa and Autozone did not have the correct mounting flange. The water pump job was basically a nightmare and took 2 days to complete.
I did check out the GMB pump at Advance when I was doing a comparison to find out what was wrong with that Napa pump. The GMB looked good too, but the Duralast is American-made and it cost about $8.00 less.
Just my .02.
I had originally bought a new Napa water pump, because they are said to be better than other brands. It was not. It had a bad problem with the machining on the inside of the pump where the heater bypass tube is mounted. It was very rough and had sharp edges down in the mounting hole, like the drill used to machine the hole wallered out and messed up the inside walls of the mounting hole. This chewed up the o-ring on the new bypass tube I installed, causing a very bad leak. Terrible lack of quality control on the Chinese-made Napa pump. So I had to remove the pump, run around to 2 different Napa stores trying to get it replaced and the replacement pump they wanted to give me had the same problem. I returned the Napa pump and bought the Duralast pump.
Not meaning to rant here but I had to R&R my water pump twice, buy another gallon of coolant, plus I had to buy another heater bypass tube and I had to get that from the Dodge dealer because the bypass tube from Napa and Autozone did not have the correct mounting flange. The water pump job was basically a nightmare and took 2 days to complete.
I did check out the GMB pump at Advance when I was doing a comparison to find out what was wrong with that Napa pump. The GMB looked good too, but the Duralast is American-made and it cost about $8.00 less.
Just my .02.
In years past the few times I needed a Chevy water pump a FACTORY NEW from the dealer was about the same price as a hoocha coocha. Price a factory over the counter.
Just get an OE pump from the dealer. Even if it's made offshore, it's likely made to a higher standard.
For the Jeep? The new units are only about 10-15 dollars more than the remanufactured pump. Just buy a new one.
For the LT-1? EEEeeek....yeah. you don't want to scrimp on that and wash out your Optispark. I used to try to sell the genuine Delco unit at O'Reilly but the customers usually bought the reman unit because the new one was about $100 more. (OE or aftermarket) Some worked better than others.
For the LT-1? EEEeeek....yeah. you don't want to scrimp on that and wash out your Optispark. I used to try to sell the genuine Delco unit at O'Reilly but the customers usually bought the reman unit because the new one was about $100 more. (OE or aftermarket) Some worked better than others.
I bought a standard volume GMB pump for my LA 318. The sealed plastic bag within the box said it was made in Thailand.
It has two more vanes on the impeller than the unknown brand I took out.
It seems like a nicely made unit. It's only been on for 5 months so no reports on longevity from me.
It has two more vanes on the impeller than the unknown brand I took out.
It seems like a nicely made unit. It's only been on for 5 months so no reports on longevity from me.
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Yeah, it's for the Jeep. The front cover has been moist for the last few changes. I'm planning on a brand new pump, I'll have to see what an OE pump costs me.
Cardone and GMB from my experience are both very iffy.
Rock has a new AC Delco unit for $53 and its probably a delphi or other OEM part inside the box.
Rock has a new AC Delco unit for $53 and its probably a delphi or other OEM part inside the box.
Originally Posted By: Spazdog
For the Jeep? The new units are only about 10-15 dollars more than the remanufactured pump. Just buy a new one.
For the LT-1? EEEeeek....yeah. you don't want to scrimp on that and wash out your Optispark. I used to try to sell the genuine Delco unit at O'Reilly but the customers usually bought the reman unit because the new one was about $100 more. (OE or aftermarket) Some worked better than others.
Yep - I only use a NEW Ac Delco pump on the LT-1's. The last one I changed on my Corvette was about $150 new and was only like $30 more than the reman units. That opti is costly when drenched with coolant.
For the Jeep? The new units are only about 10-15 dollars more than the remanufactured pump. Just buy a new one.
For the LT-1? EEEeeek....yeah. you don't want to scrimp on that and wash out your Optispark. I used to try to sell the genuine Delco unit at O'Reilly but the customers usually bought the reman unit because the new one was about $100 more. (OE or aftermarket) Some worked better than others.
Yep - I only use a NEW Ac Delco pump on the LT-1's. The last one I changed on my Corvette was about $150 new and was only like $30 more than the reman units. That opti is costly when drenched with coolant.
I made sure to find a water pump with brand name bearings for the last one I replaced. The AC Delco had F.A.G. Canada bearings. All others I looked at were no-name China. The labor was worth about four times the cost of the pump, so I wasn't cheaping out on that one.
I recommend a brand new airtex water pump i have installed them in several of mine and friends cars and have never had one leak on me.
Way back in the dark ages I was a service advisor in a large Downtown Atlanta Pontiac dealer. Pontiac needing a water pump(Chevy,Olds Etc.) the mechanic went to parts and got a seal/bearing kit. He then pressed the water pump apart,replaced seal,bearing and then spray painted it Green or orange etc. Dis that until the mid 80s on most leaking water pumps.
I used GMB on my Civic and previous Accord. So far so good after 2 years/15k miles.
I'm running a Cardone Select (new, not reman) pump on my Jeep. It's got about 8k on it with no issues.
I picked up a $32 water pump off eBay for my 96 chevy blazer about 10,000 miles ago. Not sure what brand it was but it's done the job so far.
Also picked up a cheap waterpump from oreilly's for a 2000 chevy s10 and that's worked without issue. Had I had someone else install the pump I would have gotten a better one but with free labor I didnt see the point spending over $100 more.
Also picked up a cheap waterpump from oreilly's for a 2000 chevy s10 and that's worked without issue. Had I had someone else install the pump I would have gotten a better one but with free labor I didnt see the point spending over $100 more.
I had a terrible chinese made water pump on my '98 Chev. Once installed, the truck made a significant vibration above about 4000 rpm. I thought the installer had screwed up the fan clutch, which I replaced and it didn't solve the problem.
Then when this water pump failed again in 40k miles, I replaced it with a North American made one, and the vibration was gone.
Then when this water pump failed again in 40k miles, I replaced it with a North American made one, and the vibration was gone.
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