I just finished bolting things up after replacing the water pump gasket on my '98. Thought things would be good, but she's still leaking. Anyone got any suggestions...

 

welcome to DF...

did you look at the DIY water pump swap?
https://dodgeforum.com/m_224411/tm.htm

did you swap the bypass hose?
did you swap the pump? (you only mentioned the gasket...)

 

check the water pipe for the heater hose. it requires an o-ring at the base of the pipe, and it has to be pushed in deep. put a little grease on it. new wp should have come with the o-ring.

 

another good point... but still... is it a new pump?

 

Thanks for the welcome.
That's a good DIY piece.
I went through most all those steps, except I didn't swap anything except the gasket. I hadn't herd anything prior to make me think the pump needed to be replaced and the impellers looked good when I took the pump off; it just sprayed coolant/water.

 

if it was leaking out of the weep hole, it's going bad. hate to say it but you might have to do it again.

 

Yeah, I think I'm headin' that way there Steve.
I thank ya all for your input.

 

glad to help... you might want to consider a timing chain swap if you feel up to it, its not that much more work. the stock ones suck and are pretty much gone by 40~50k miles.

 

Just a little advice do the water pump there not crazy expensive and usually come with all the gaskets and seals u need do your self a favor and do it this way so your only doing it once

 

yes they are all right i just changed mine about 2k miles ago it was easy and it came with everthing but silicone sealer buy the one with a warranty its a lil more but worth it i paid like 70 buck with a lifetime warrant @ advnce discount auto parts they wanted 35 for a rebuilt one i said screw that and popped for a brand new one with warranty if u got more question just ask were all here at some point in the day....j