How To Rebuild a Water Pump

Today we’re tearing down an old, tired water pump and rebuilding it from the housing up to get it performing better than new. Whether you’re dealing with a standard or reverse rotation setup, we’re showing you the exact process to get it done right in your own garage. It doesn’t take much more than an hour of work if you’ve got the right setup. We’re using a complete rebuild kit that covers everything we need—the new shaft, impeller, front hub, and bearings. The tricky part with these pumps is really getting that impeller clearance dialed in, so we’re breaking down how to use a feeler gauge to hit that critical 10 to 13 thousandths gap. If you’ve got a shop press, some solvent for cleanup, and a little patience, you can save some cash and end up with a part that’s performing way better than what you’d grab off the shelf. We’re even covering how to blast the housing clean so we’re starting with a totally fresh surface before pressing the new assembly together.