Dear ATLD,
Thanks for the reply.
The beast has 175k miles,98%of which is highway, under 60mph, oil changed every 2500 miles since new.
The engineering is not fail-safe. As I stated, roller bearings would give better service under these conditions: additionally, the "cage" that isolates the pump from the timing gear could be screened or designed to hold the ball bearing in the eventuality of a bearing failure. This failure has probably destroyed my engine.
Why not run the pump off of the fan belt, for example? Sticking the vacuum pump where it is makes access to the injection pump all the more difficult...speaking of which, to change the oil seal at the anterior of the injection pump, one is almost forced to remove the oil filter housing...real smart.
As I stated in another thread, engineers in my day were required to take shop/practical classes to better understand the logistics of repairing and servicing what they'd just designed.