oil pump replace? weird noise

[blktalon3]

My car started making a weird noise at the end of last summer. It would do it when I was sitting still or moving. Mainly above 3000rpms or when I got off the gas after accelerating. Well I started trying to figure it out and I narrowed it down to the timing belt side of the engine. Replaced the harmonic balancer, didn't work, so I took off all the acc. belts and timing covers, still no. I took the timing belt off and checked all those pulleys and they all seemed good. So then I thought balance shaft bearing. Took the balance shafts out but didnt notice anything bad out of the ordinary. I looked at the oil pump while I had it out and noticed a couple things, tell me what you think. If this may be the cause of my noise or not. In the first and third pics you can see where it looks like the gears were rubbing the housing and then in the last pic where the front balance shaft was riding there are grooves in the bearing.
Thanks

 

[Kickerbeast]

So what kind of noise was it? I'm guessing that isn't a brand new pump or anything. How many miles? Looks like you might have some debris that ran though at some time to make those marks.

 

[blktalon3]

Original pump as far as I know. About 135,000 miles. The noise is kinda hard to decribe, I would say its like a growling sound

 

[jimbob_843]

Have you considered a balance shaft elimination? Only thing i would be concerned about with it is the wear harming the shaft stub.

 

[LiquidX]

Over time the gears will wear out of spec and cause issues like you are describing. It's a "wear" part. Go and get yourself a new OEM case and put the BSEK on it. If you haven't already replace the timing parts as well.

 

[blktalon3]

I was planning on the BSE and also replacing all the timing components, I would just hate to spend $350 on a new oil pump if I didn't need it. Or can I get just the front case and not the gears?

 

[LiquidX]

You would want to replace the case and gears with those high of miles since it's off and since it seems worn. Check to se if the the tolerances are still in spec if you are wanting to re use it. I howeve would replace it for piece of mind.

 

[Kickerbeast]

If you are looking at a BSE, check out this link, second product from the bottom. It lowers the rotating mass, but with this, the oil pump is properly supported. Plus you won't have the increased oil pressure from the blockoffs.

Products - AETuning - High Performance Automotive

 

[viperlp01]

FWIW My BSE stubby shaft some magical way loosened up and fell out. It sounded like a power steering pump going out. I ended up pulling the case and my stubby shaft was sitting on the bottom of my pan. Crazy weird noise that I had to check out and it was hard to pin point.