<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-07-17</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000030625</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FLOWSERVE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FLS</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
    <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001208749</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FERGUSON THOMAS E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>0</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
      <officerTitle>VP and President of Pump Div.</officerTitle>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeSecurity>
    <securityTitle>
      <value>Common Stock ($1.25 par value per share)</value>
    </securityTitle>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-07-17</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>0</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>0</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>A</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>8138</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>D</value>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </nonDerivativeSecurity>
  <derivativeSecurity>
    <securityTitle>
      <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
    </securityTitle>
    <conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <value>19.15</value>
    </conversionOrExercisePrice>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-07-17</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>15000</value>
        <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>0</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>A</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <exerciseDate>
      <value>2008-07-17</value>
    </exerciseDate>
    <expirationDate>
      <value>2013-07-17</value>
    </expirationDate>
    <underlyingSecurity>
      <underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock</value>
      </underlyingSecurityTitle>
      <underlyingSecurityShares>
        <value>15000</value>
        <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </underlyingSecurityShares>
    </underlyingSecurity>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>15000</value>
      </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>D</value>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </derivativeSecurity>
  <derivativeSecurity>
    <securityTitle>
      <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
    </securityTitle>
    <conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <value>19.15</value>
    </conversionOrExercisePrice>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-07-17</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>15000</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>0</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>A</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <exerciseDate>
      <value>2004-07-17</value>
      <footnoteId id="F2"/>
    </exerciseDate>
    <expirationDate>
      <value>2013-07-17</value>
    </expirationDate>
    <underlyingSecurity>
      <underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock</value>
      </underlyingSecurityTitle>
      <underlyingSecurityShares>
        <value>15000</value>
      </underlyingSecurityShares>
    </underlyingSecurity>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>15000</value>
      </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>D</value>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </derivativeSecurity>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">750 shares owned directly, and an additional 7,388 shares owned indirectly as reporting person's beneficial interest in the Flowserve Corporation Retirement Savings Plan (401(k)).</footnote>
    <footnote id="F2">Minimum of one (1) year from date of grant, plus other ownership requirements.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F3">One half vests on July 17, 2008, the remainder on July 17, 2013.</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>/s/ Ronald F Shuff, by power of attorney</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-07-18</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

