I have a 2006 Ram 1500 QC 5.7 Big Horn. The front bearing on my alternator is making a lot of noise. Is it possible to just replace the front bearing instead of the whole alternator? This seems more economically friendly.

 

You could but by the time you track down the parts and take the time to replace that bearing you would better off replacing it. I think

 

Don't know if you had it replaced yet, but my alternator bearing started to go out I took it to a guy who rebuilds them and for $70 he changed the bearing and brushes. He said the brushes were almost gone. It had about 115,00 miles on it. Now I have a quite and happy alternator. I would of tried to change it myself but I didn't know if you needed a press and I wouldn't know how to replace the brushes.

 

Rebuilds are cheaper than replacement. The slip-ring in my Ram 2500 Wagon went bye-bye (noisy and intermittent charging). I wasn't relishing pulling that alternator. The shop fixed it in a couple of hours for $60.

 

I took my bearing singing on my original 136a as a sign to upgrade to the 160a.