Mechs,

I have my 93 SC400 apart to install a new water pump and tensioner and idler pulleys. I have had a bearing noise that I localized to the area behind my serpentine belt.....water pump and cam timing belt stuff.

The pump I took off seem fine except that the bearing has noise even when spinning it by hand. The date stamp on it says 93 or 98, I can't tell which. My problem is that the pump was installed WITHOUT a gasket. Silicone was all that sealed it. I know that that stuff is ok for bunches of aps. and it was not leaking. The new pump came with a gasket. Should I, for some tech reason, not use the gasket? Did Lex use a gasket in their oem config. If the date is 98 it was changed out with the first cam belt replacement.

Has anybody taken a new one apart?

Thanks

John