Are the o rings on the water pump drive shaft on each side of the coupler just regular orings or are they some special ones made for this particular application from GM?
http://shbox.com/ci/water_pump.jpg
I'm talking about part 156 in view A of this diagram from shoebox's website.
I took the waterpump off last December and I don't recall the orings at all. My gasket/seal kit does not seem to include specific orings for this part so I'm a little confused.

 

Its labeled a "seal" be it really doesn't seal anything. I think its just used to give the shaft a little cushion for vibration and noise, and it does help hold the shaft coupler in palce and on the shaft during wp install. Any o-ring that fits snugly over the shaft should work.

 

I just got plain Jane orings from the bulk box at the parts house, as long as the coupler fits snug you are golden.

 

Should the coupler fit OVER the orings or should the orings be just large enough in diameter than they do not go inside the coupler? The ones I used fit snug over the shaft but the material diameter is large enough to seat against the outside edge of each end of the coupler

 

coupler goes over the orings just slightly.

 

The o-rings "seal" out dirt from the splines. They should have a little grease on them.

 

What kind of grease?

 

A dab of bearing grease should do.