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hey everybody,

I am trying to change the water pump on my 528e. My friend and I accidentally removed the bolts that hold the pulley to the water pump, so we try to stick smaller bolts in the holes to hold it still. But when we try to turn the big 1 1/4" nut behind the fan clutch, everything moves, and we can't hold the pulley/water pump still. Can anyone help me?

We began to saw off the old water pump, behind the pulley...that's how desperate we are...

you do realize that the fan clutch is reverse thread right...?

Are you aware that the big nut is LEFT-HAND THREADED? That means it loosens by turning it to the right, as in when looking at the engine from the front of the car, you must turn it clockwise.

yes, I am, thank you. but the problem is the whole thing moves; I can't just turn the nut without the whole thing moving, and I don't know how I can get that pulley to stay still

Put the belt back on and wedge a piece of wood into the groove where the belt wants to go "in" to the groove.

thanks a lot...any ideas for connecting the pulley back to the water pump?

[QUOTE="IRocka528"]thanks a lot...any ideas for connecting the pulley back to the water pump?[/QUOTE]

You're kidding, right? %) Ever hear the phrase "installation is reverse of removal"? :p

If you can't figure this minor task out, you'd better stop trying to "fix" your car -- seriously!

no, that's not what I mean...I'm sorry, you and everybody else must think I'm a total jackass...

ok. we removed the 4 bolts that hold the pulley to the waterpump. we also detatched the fan from the fan clutch. we really had no idea what we were doing, it's totally different to his datsun. (we're 17y/o). the big 1 1/4" nut that I am trying to remove spins with the waterpump, because it is connected to the waterpump. It seems that the only way to take this left-hand threaded nut off, is to hold the waterpump still, and turn the nut. to hold the water pump still, I have to reattach the pulley we detatched, which is more difficult than it was to detatch it. I'm sorry, is this making more sense?

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.

do you have a bently manual?????

if you don't STOP NOW.

holy crap, if you really need it mine is downstairs in the parking lot (in the car) and I can copy pages for you.

if the fan is off, and the pulley is off... then the only tool you need is a 10mm socket.

THATS IT.

also, have you drained the radiator and the block of coolant yet???

EDIT: this is all true for an M30, but I do not believe the M20 to be much different.


[Edit by dasMafia on [TIME]1111178027[/TIME]]

Have you thought about how you will change just the water pump without disturbing the timing belt? It can be done, however, it is quite difficult to get the new pump and gasket onto the block behind the tensioner pulley.

My point is that for the extra $40 (maybe), consider changing the timing belt and tensioner while you're in there.

And, please get yourself a Bentley manual. The first and best $40 (if that) you will spend on the car.

the thing is, they're still on that nut, but no longer attached to what they were attatched to

Why can't you just put the 4 10mm bolts back in? I've done this with the fan & clutch threaded onto the water pump.

OK, you got the fan off. The clutch is still on the water pump hub, but the 10mm head screws holding the pulley to the hub are out. Replace at least 2 of the 10mms holding the pulley to the hub. screw them in enough by hand so that they hold but the heads stick out a bit. Wedge a long screw driver between the screw heads. Then put the 1 1/4 wrench on the big nut and whack it toward the driver's side wheel. If this doesnt work , use a strap wrench to hold the pulley. I strongly advise you to research the project more before proceding. Get yourself the Bentley manual and read it thoroughly. good luck

thanks a lot guys. you are all "the man" haha

[QUOTE="a"]OK, you got the fan off. [/QUOTE]

no, I only seperated it from the fan clutch...it's still there causing problems

Were you trying to remove the fan clutch? I think that's what's attached to the water pump via the 32mm nut. I just used a 32mm wrench and tapped it with a mallet to get it off. You could also put the pulley back on, put the belt on the pulley, and then press down on the belt to add some tension and then get at the 32mm nut.

This is clearly outlined in the Bentley manual. I had zero trouble with this when I did my water pump last weekend.

For more threads on the 528e water pump, check out these two that I posted last week. I was having trouble with the water pump gasket. Read through the threads; many posters offered sound advice, and I have no trouble now, after following their advice.

First thread when I had water pump gasket problems.
http://www.mye28.com/cgi-bin/forum/foru ... hread=1264

Second thread, after I got the water pump back on.
http://www.mye28.com/cgi-bin/forum/foru ... hread=1344