slight knocking sorta possible water pump

[smithn1997]

I have a 1997 eddie bauer 5.0 with a slight noise sort of knocking sound best described. Most likely original water pump. I wanted to find out if it was coming from engine so I took belt off an ran it,,engine just purred with no noise. What are you alls thoughts. Do you think bearings are running on limited time we dont want to be stranded lol

thanks

 

[koda2000]

My 2000 2wd Mountaineer 5.0 w/around 190k did the same thing for a while. I first thought if was the alternator, but replacing it didn't help. Then the knocking noise went away and has never returned. That was well over a year ago and probably at least 12,000 miles. I'm pretty sure it was the water pump, but I'm not going to try and change it until I have to. It's a fairly horrible job due to rusted bolts breaking off.

 

[smithn1997]

Update....

It was the water pump. 3 bolts were rusted but came out an then re-tightened so I was lucky. Hardest part was get hose on pump while also trying to line it up. Could do this job in 2hrs next time as long as bolts don't break.