Sanity check - 5.0 water pump

[Kidd7]

I've had some squeaking coming from the front end, I've replaced both idler pulleys & the Tensioner. I still have an intermittent squeal, All the pulleys are solid and spinning freely. Using a stethoscope I traced it to the water pump. Does the water pump intermittently squealing sound correct even though the pulley doesn't feel sloppy? I've got some road trips coming up and can't replace the water pump before the first trip, any advice, how concerned should I be with the squeaking? Thanks.

 

[8TZX]

You may want to listen for the squeal coming from the cam synchronizer. Which is located above the water pump and to the right of the thermostat housing. I had a similar squeal in which I replaced the same pulleys and idler. It was the synchronizer. The bushings begin to fail and the squeal starts. You can try and lubricate the bushings but that may only be temporary. If you decide to replace use a Motorcraft part. Don't use aftermarket.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

^ that. also if your going to replace it, use a motorcraft one and not aftermarket one. ask anyone here with a 5L that has changed one. the aftermarket ones dont last

 

[CDW6212R]

Ditto, lubricate the synchronizer and replace the idlers as needed, to be sure it's not the WP. If the WP is making noise, it won't be that long before it leaks and then fails, so avoid that on a trip. Add a coolant lubricant also which helps the water pump seals etc.

 

[Kidd7]

OK, did some reading about the cam cam synchronizer, sure sounds like what I'm experiencing. I saw Koda2000 mentioned lubing it with ATF. I can't access this anyway to lube it w/o removing it, correct? Then in order to reinstall I need that alignment tool.

 

[fast_dave]

@Kidd7

I don't know if you've ever pulled a DISTRIBUTOR but the same applies.

That being the MOST important thing is don't pull it without FIRST marking the direction it's pointed -

If you skip that step, you'll be in a world of hurt upon re-installation.

It's all out there and well-documented BUT I just wanted to throw that out there in case you get anxious

HTH -

 

[Kidd7]

I have pulled a distributor and installed it 180* out of phase. So get I get it, ordered the tool on Amazon and will tackle it this week.

 

[Kidd7]

Using the stethoscope it's difficult to determine if the sound is from the syncronizer or the water pump, the sound is very similar at both locations.
I removed the serpentine belt and ran the engine for 1/2 a min or so, it still squeaked, so not a pulley. Using a small 10mm wrench with a 1/4 drive socket adapter the 2 bolts (7/32) were fairly easy to remove on the CPS and you can see the top of the syncronizer shaft. No need to move the coil packs.
Using an oral syringe a few drops of ATF between the top disk and the outer circle took care of the squeaking.
Thanks for everyone's help here.

 

[CDW6212R]

Excellent, that's a best case fix, minor labor and the noise is discovered. Now you know what it is, you can monitor it and replace it later if it goes bad. It's the bushings on the synchronizer body that make the noise, they don't get much oil to lubricate them.

 

[EB4X]

OH HOW fortunate to have to deal with (access to) a cam synchronizer on a 5.0 versus a 4.0 ! From cake to nightmare!

 

[CDW6212R]

OH HOW fortunate to have to deal with (access to) a cam synchronizer on a 5.0 versus a 4.0 ! From cake to nightmare!

Yes definitely. I've never seen the 4.0 synchronizer from the top with it all together, just in pictures here and with the body off. A GM guy designed that I'll bet, just like the water pumps they bury down inside the engine with coolant pipes running under the intake.

 

[beepinX]

You may want to listen for the squeal coming from the cam synchronizer. Which is located above the water pump and to the right of the thermostat housing. I had a similar squeal in which I replaced the same pulleys and idler. It was the synchronizer. The bushings begin to fail and the squeal starts. You can try and lubricate the bushings but that may only be temporary. If you decide to replace use a Motorcraft part. Don't use aftermarket.

My uncle described almost the same squeal sound around the water pump of his '99 Explorer. He recently came from surgery so I'll check it for him after I finished installing the shocks onto the Wrangler. Gonna check the synchronizer.