I replaced the front and rear bearings and brushes in the GN's alternator and it still has a squeal. Definitely the alternator, took it off and has a squeal when rotating CCW so I replaced the rear bearing again and cleaned/lightly sanded the slip rings......squeal gone when hand turning. I drove it 5 miles today and it's squealing again!! Is there something causing it to work harder?? These were good NTN bearings.
Yep, new belt. That's what I thought it was at first. I should add the squeal is more of a chirp with each revolution.
What about other fan belts? Are they new as well? Chirping could be an out of round pulley that's contacting a bracket or something similar.o No:
Sounds like the brushes are not seated on the slip rings properly.Make sure they are free in the brush holders by pushing them back into the holder and releasing them slowly into the running position several times. You might need to clean the inside of the holders or lightly sand the outside edges of the brushes so they slide easily. Also make sure the ends of the brushes are perpendicular to the slip rings when they are installed.
Sounds like the brushes are not seated on the slip rings properly. Make sure they are free in the brush holders by pushing them back into the holder and releasing them slowly into the running position several times. You might need to clean the inside of the holders or lightly sand the outside edges of the brushes so they slide easily. Also make sure the ends of the brushes are perpendicular to the slip rings when they are installed.
The alternator is definitely the source of the chirp without the belt attached. tom_gonzalez@ve - I think you hit the nail on the head. One of the brushes was stuck in the housing after my last bearing replacement......so maybe/probably they are the chirp source. I will try what you recommended. Thanks for all your inputs! Mark
Mark, I hope Tom's suggestion will be the cure.:TU: If not, I just thought of the belt tensioner, if your car has the serpentine belt.
Thanks Mister T. This car fights me every step. I'm going to replace all the internals while I have it out since they are original and 27 years old. I 'll let you all know what happens. mark
I rebuilt the alternator - new rectifier/capacitor/volt. regulator, both bearings, chucked up the rotor and took some runout from the slip rings. Started car and no noise....5 minutes later the chirp came back. I ran a clean rag over the serp. belt ribs and it went away ou: ...might have been the belt even though the alt. was chirping when spun by hand. Oh well, at least I have new internals.
More than likely it was a combination of both. If the alternator made the noise without the belt on it the belt could not have been the main culprit. Like you said at least you have new internals.
All alternators make a slight click or chirp noise when spun by hand.Your pulley is probably polished from slipping or plain wear after time.If it comes back pull the pulley off & have it glass beaded to take the glaze off.:TU:
The 86 and 87 Turbo Regal use a very thin spacer between the pulley and stock stamped steel fan. Kirban performance parts used to offer a replacement updated style fan with a different spacer. Does your alternator have a stamped steel 'flat blade' fan, or a plastic 'curved blade behind flat steel face plate' style fan? Stamped steel is factory original...
Chirp came back. I upgraded to the plastic fan and spacer. The belt is nice and straight on all the pulleys. I'll try bead blasting the pulley like Jamie said.
