Water pumps, which are good which suck?

[AlanP1964]

Looking at changing the water pump on the family truckster 2001 Jeep Cherokee in the near future. I figure with 140k+ miles I'm probably living on borrowed time. Any specific brands to look at or ones to stay away from? I dont want to be swapping it out once a year etc.

[sammm]

If the original lasted 140K, hard to argue with OEM again.

Translation - Now is not the time to pinch pennies.

[black roadster]

Now is not the time to pinch pennies.

On a 90-05 Miata I'd agree but not all cars have difficult to change water pumps. Not sure about the Jeep. Honestly, I think and NEW water pump from your favorite parts store would be fine. I've used both OEM and aftermarket WP on Miatas and can not tell a difference. The rebuilt ones were crap though. The mating surface was rough and I questioned the sealing ability. The new ones have a machined mating surface.

[AlanP1964]

Thanks. It's not terribly difficult to change, I just prefer to be doing other things. And yes, the OEM has lasted and that is good advertising for going that route, I just figured if an aftermarket one at less $ is as good then I would consider that as well.

[black roadster]

an aftermarket one at less $ is as good

That has been my experience. Go new though. Not rebuilt.

[Rob®]

I've used both OEM and aftermarket WP on Miatas and can not tell a difference..

Where you getting brand new Mazda water pumps for NA Miatas?? Not Mazda, they send you a reboxed GMB - identical to the unit you can get on eBay for less. Or you talking about previously (as in at least 4 or 5 years ago)?

[black roadster]

Where you getting brand new Mazda water pumps for NA Miatas?? Not Mazda, they send you a reboxed GMB - identical to the unit you can get on eBay for less. Or you talking about previously (as in at least 4 or 5 years ago)?

Yep. Been a while since I bought a new water pump from the dealer. I couldn't tell the difference so I've been using aftermarket pumps for years. We do the same at TDR.

[Rob®]

As do I. I am a firm "OE waterpump only" guy, but when I started getting timing belt kits from Mazda with the only part being OEM the valve cover gasket for nearly twice as much as the same aftermarket parts you can get elsewhere, I stopped even bothering. I would always give customers the option for "Mazda" parts, but I would show and tell them that the GMB pump you get from Mazda *is* the GMB pump you can get elsewhere. Same with the bearings.

That said, if the factory Jeep pump isn't that much more than an aftermarket one, I would go that route. Or at least hit up a few Jeep forums and see if the aftermarket brand you're looking at is worth the effort. There is a ton of info out there on just about any Jeep, so shouldn't take more than a few minutes to rule out if xx brand pump is crap or not.