Alright my truck has 185k and runs as strong as the day I got her. Sure I have to change ball joints once every year or so, I knew that going into it... However after owning the truck for 2 years I had to replace the waterpump. Two years after that I came out from work and noticed a massive amount of something leaking under the truck... you guessed it, water pump changed that one in the parking lot at work. Two years after that we were coming through the mountains on the way home form Myrtle Beach, stopped at a hotel for some rest, and guess what... Water pump taking a leak all over the parking lot of the hotel. I did that one in the parking lot too. Done it soo many times it only took a few hours with Autozone loaner tools. Two years after that I started to notice the dripping again... WATER PUMP!!!! Let a shop do it that time thinking that maybe, just maybe I was doing it wrong or something. Well it has been 2 years now and guess what I found in the driveway today... The beginning of that all too familiar water pump leak!!!!! Is this common with these trucks or do I have a derilict? I love this truck and it has been awesome!!!! Only been stuck once, and haven't found anything I can't tow yet... but I have never known a vehicle to need a waterpump every 2 years like clock work. Any insight, suggestions, or knowledge of what I can do to prevent this from happening again 2 years from now?

 

First off you have something going on...ball joints do NOT have to be replaced as often as you say. My 1998 has had plenty of rough driving and larger than stock tires and my ball joints have only been changed once. 150K miles.

Water pump in my 1998 Durango is also original.

Start with some details.

Are you using the same fan and clutch every time? If something is wrong with the fan...maybe it's slightly out of balance or something...maybe the clutch is bad or out of balance...because if that fan and clutch are not in balance they WILL destroy the pump's front bearing in short order. Might be worth it to bolt on a spare used fan and clutch since I imagine it would be very hard to check the balance of such hardware.

What coolant type do you use and what mixture with water? Hard water of soft water? Do you change your coolant every Spring? Do you use any additives or detergents that might be eating through the bearing seals?

 

Well to be honest I was exaggerating a little on the ball joints, I too have only changed them once... Just making light of the reputation. I use a 50/50 mix and have changed it every 2 years. Haha! The clutch and fan were replaced last time... (about 2 years ago)

 

What about the belt tensioner? Any chance it's tighter than it should be and pulling the belt too tight? I have seen that on GM serpentine systems before. Tensioner puts so much tension on the belt that it literally side loads the bearings in some of the accessories.

I'm just trying to think from all angles.