soverystout

Did this as a preventive maintence item 5 months ago along with the LN low temp stat, serp belt, and a few coolant hoses.

I would definately use the OEM pump.
The pump definately comes out the bottom and not through the engine lid area.
If you use the OEM metal gasket I wouldn't use sealant.
Burping the system is a bit of a pain but as it takes a while.
Be mindful that you have to cut the gasket free from the engine because the water pump and oil pump (or is it the fuel pump?) gaskets were installed as 1 unit from the factory.

My car is an 03 and had 40K on it when I did it and the bearing was making a little noise once I had it in my hands. Age and coolant kills these things.

philooo

How did you decide which hose to change ? did you had a list or you simply replace the one that looked old ? It seems fairly easy I might go ahead and tackle this job. 8 years old start to count on a pump for sure.

soverystout

I just loooked at the factory diagram and picked the hoses that were at the back end of the car.

If you tell a parts guys you want to replace all the coolant hoses on a 996, he will laugh at you and say, "That's gonna take some time and quite a bit of $$$"

Partsguy

Don't they say that about most jobs???............