Just thought I would post what so far has been the main sticking point to changing the water pump in my wifes 98 Durango. Evidently there are two types of hubs on the water pump for this particular year. The factory service manual states to use a screw driver around the hub bolts to keep the hub from rotating while you try to undo the 36mm nut connecting the fan assembly to the hub.

Well, naturally, mine has a pressed on hub. No bolts to pin a screw driver to!! No matter how much I tried to hold that hub, - no way. I consulted with the local Dodge service department head who insisted they were all bolt on hubs, in any case, he said to keep the belt on to provide tension, put the 36mm wrench (longer the better) on the nut, and whack it with a hammer.

With the belt back on the tension was still not enough. Then I remembered that somewhere in my stuff I had an old fashioned pully spreader tool used to properly put tension on the old style auto belts.

I attached the spreader between the tensioner and the crankshaft hub, made it as tight as I could with my hand, and gave the wrench two moderate whacks.

Bingo! It worked just fine. If I find any more weird stuff during the reassembly process I will post it here.

Good luck.<img border="0" src=smileys/smiley5.gif border="0"><edited><editID>tjtrujillo</editID><editDate>37960.5815046296</editDate></edited>

 

I just changed mine out on a '98and had a time figuring it out as well.I was curious though, there aren't bolts in the pulley, but four holes in the face of the pulley. They have a specialtool which inserts into the holes for resistance. Of course, nobody carried the tool. SoI used a curved end needle nose pliers inserted into two of the holes for resistance while I turned the main nut.