Water Pump Seal Direction

I had to replace my water pump seal and now I'm not sure if I put the new one in the right way. (Installed it the same as what I took out though...) Still leaking from the weep hole now.

The old one was installed with the "open" side of the seal facing away from the water pump impeller. I didn't give it a second thought at the time...but wouldn't it make more sense for the "open" (spring) side to face the pump?

I also discovered a slight groove on the impeller shaft... ...the whole thing was fine until it boiled over in some single track behind a slow guy...

Anyhow, the new seal is dripping...lots...and I'm thinking of taking the case off and putting in another seal facing the opposite way. Sound right? No idea why the original one was backwards if that is the case.

Husaden said:

The lips (Spring side/Open side) faces the higher pressure... Thats the water side in this case. So youre right its wrong.......
Make sure you also give the seal a bit of sealant on the outside before pressing it in.
Try smoothing the groove out a bit with fine emery.

Anders, DK

Click to expand...

Thanks...make sense...it's a wonder it lasted as long as it did backwards... :shock: