thanks for the replies everyone...just finished! Spent the last hour in some bubbly with wifey...lol

So, I drained tub, took apart the pump and dried it out along with some WD-40 on the bearings as suggested and then filled it back up to another leak. UGH. Stupid union nuts! Got the pump wet again...drained it out and repeated everything again but this time I swapped pumps and fortunately the other pump was good as well.

Long day/night. Thanks again for the help. I hate plumbing.