Anyone ever change bearings in the alternator?
Is it easy?
Anyone have the part numbers?

I've always just swapped the alt for a reman, but these suckers are much more expensive.
While installing my LM21 PSK, I spun the alt and can hear a light chirp. Since I have everything removed on the front of the eng bay, no time like the present to yank the alternator and repair it.
FWIW, I have almost 90k mi on the car.

The C32 has a breakdown for the bearings sold seperate, but not the SLK32 on this site:
2002 MERCEDES-BENZ C32 AMG Parts - OE Discount Parts

 

A "chirp" is usually an indication of something in the path, like a bit of insulation hitting the rotor. Failing bearings usually have a coarsness or "rumble" to them.

Just sayin'...

But, it should be relatively easy to change the bearings-just make sure you can find them and you have a pulley/bearing puller to start with. NO PRYING!

 

Back in the day I thought I had a bearing failure in an alternator so I blindly took it apart. The bearing was OK so I tried to put it back together, no way was it going to go back together without a special tool to hold the brushes back while I put the rotor in.
A quick trip to the auto parts store where I traded in a perfect alternator as the casting for a reman one.

Another lesson learned - again, look before you leap.

 

I'd just buy a used alternator if it were me. I found one on ebay with only 25K miles for $88.50 shipped.

04 05 06 07 Crossfire Alternator | eBay

 

I'm not a big fan of buying used on some parts (like alternators), however you did steer me toward a good option. EBay has a bunch of remans that aren't too badly priced. It's still significantly cheaper to replace bearings, but not sure if I can find them easily. The chirp does sound like a dry bearing starting to go. Not bad enough to make a grind.

 

A lot of alternator brush sets have the carbons held in with a straightened paper clip till you reassemble the halves.

The big failure in bearings is pressing them off and or on, so I dont care anymore and get a reman unit with a warranty, 90k its time. Woody

 

I just pulled it out and the noise is minimal, but present. I'm sure with a belt and load on it, it would be prevalent. I know I had a squeaking noise in the fall before I tore into this project, so I guess I should change it out. I'd be pissed if I put everything back together and then had to change it in a few months...

So now to find a good reman that will deliver to APO.

During my EBay searching, I had to laugh at the post for an alternator for sale pulled from an SLK that had an engine fire.