Water Pump Shaft End Play

[spinelll]

In reference to shaft end play, are we talking about when I grab a mounted water pump by the pulley (fan and belt in place) and move it towards the radiator and then back towards the block? Is that how you measure it?
When I measure that distance, I got like 1/16th of an inch! A response to a prior question stated that the max shaft end play is .006. But how can you measure .006 moving the pulley in and out in the manner mentioned above? Seems nearly impossible.
On a related issue. I replaced my fan with a "one piece" last year. Check out the picture below.

Can you see how the belt doesn't sit flush in the pulley? Is the powder coat on the pulley the cause? I also get this annoying squeak in that spot requiring a shot of WD prior to every ride. It bugs the bejesus out of me.
Thanks
Leo

 

[Aerocraft]

The end play is best measured when the pump is being installed and you are not burdened with the fan belt. The fan belt doesn't fit correctly in the pulley simply because the pulley is too small. The powder coat thickness is not enough to cause that problem. You can install a collar on the water pump shaft to limit the clearance although there will be some who respond who are not in favor of that device. Squeeking is a problem with many of the fan belts. I use a belt dressing. You will get many "sure" remedys to fix the noise. Just pick what you can live with.

 

[J Franklin]

without a gasket there should be no end play, and the gasket originally supplied by Ford had a thickness of .006. The .006 was a minimum clearance.