Is there any problem w/ removing the water pump shaft after installing an electric water pump? I have no plans to take off the timing cover and remove the gear assembly, but it seems logical to at least remove the shaft as it slids out very easy (or at least mine does). The back of the WP housing is plugged off so the shaft is not in contact w/ anything.

Thanks!
Mike

 

You must be talking about the sleeve that connects the two shafts. You can take that off, but the shaft that comes out through the cove will not come out through the cover because its pressed into a gear that is behind upper timing chain gear.
I've read that you should take the gear and shaft out because ther is no support for it when its not connected to anything, and will wear the cover.

 

In actually, the shaft that comes out of the timing cover (seems to fit into the assembly behind the timing cover) and which has groves (gears) on the surface is what I am referring to (we may be talking about the same thing). When I look at a diagram of the WP assembly, I see the cover (sleeve) that connects the 2 shafts. This IS the shaft that seems to slip out of the unit behind the TC very easily. It appears I can remove it w/o creating any problems (oil leak, etc.) Am I correct?

Thanks!
Mike

 

Remove the coupler (female spline) and leave the stub shaft in the timing cover. I've ran mine almost 6 years that way. When I cam it I'll remove it.

 

Look, if you remove the water pump, all you have is the seal to hold the front of the water pump gear/shaft in place. It might stay there like that indefinitely or it might decide to get crooked and mess things up. Or it could just wear little from no front support and make metal in the oil. So you are taking a chance leaving it in there, but there has been some guys who have done it that way and I never heard of one coming apart on a guy, or else they just didn't post it when it did.

 

Thanks!! Will remove it.