Water pump OEM Toyota or Hepu

When I was shopping around for cooling system replacement parts, I wasn't sure if GRAF or HEPU made a better metal-impellar water pump. I ended up purchasing both the GRAF and HEPU, and found the HEPU to have a better fit and finish compared to the GRAF.

My next car I got a Hepu pump, which FCP lists as an OEM supplier. The impeller is plastic (or composite, I don't remember), but overall the part is so much nicer.

Had a friend rebuild his 22RE, guy ordered his parts from eBay. Parts to replace which I believe is a must, water pump, t-stat, oil pump, timing chain and tensioner.

New water pump - HEPU $30.00

Hepu is OEM, never had any issues with one.

Over the weekend this is how I did the water pump. I didn't have 2 hydraulic jacks, so I had to come up with some other idea. When I took out the water pump, I think the seal was starting to leak. Cleaned up area and reinstalled with new water pump.

It's quality components from GermanAutoParts. Hepu WP, Conti belt, and NTN tensioner pulley, damper, and idler pulley.

My original plastic impeller pump failed at 145k miles. I replaced with with a metal impeller pump (Hepu IIRC).

I’ve now popped two water pumps. Each of them have sprung a leak from the freeze plug. I seat the pump and o-ring by hand then torque bolts to spec.. each time they’ve been good for about a month or so, then start leaking from the freeze plug.. both pumps have been made by HEPU.

I had a defective hepu pump that leaked also. Only had about 20k miles on it