We'll address the rough idle later.
Let's get to the bigger problem.
Yes, it does sound like the water pump bearings are going out.
Not only do you have a chance of the belt slipping off and leaving you stranded, but you have a higher chance of the pump completely failing and dumping all of the coolant out.
You can take your belt off, now without the belt pressure on the waterpump pulley, see if you can move the fan, and is the pivot point about where it goes into the pump?
You will probably find that is where the problem is, and you will need to get a new (or remaned) pump.
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Friday, July 3rd, 2009 AT 7:21 PM