hey guys i have a little problem, sorta.... my alternator pulley seems to be making a whining noise. i rebuilt my completely 3.0 in January and since then it has been whining, at first i thought it was the belt because i reused the old one. i replaced the belt and it continued to whine so i sprayed the pulley on the grooves (where the belt makes contact) with some wd40 and it became silent!

so i know its the pulley.... what are my options for this? the alternator is the stocker but i replaced the brushes about a year ago so it works fine, just this noise is beginning to bug me lol

 

Perhaps its not the pulley itself but the front alternator bearing. There is also a rear bearing.

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I'm guessing supermarket bearings would be a fraction of the price. If that doesn't solve it I would check your headlight fluid reservoir

 

If the noise stopped when you put WD40 on the pulley grooves, then the correct lubricant should be used - Belt Lube or Silicone Spray (Used on my truck for belts and window track rubber lubrication).

 

I'm going to check out some silicon spray first, seems like the cheaper and easier way to go lol if that doesn't solve it then I'll replace the bearings, if it's the bearings can I just pack them with some grease and call it good or should i replace them?

 

Silicon spray will probably stop the whining, but be aware that is not an actual fix. Belt dressing is just a bandaid masking an underlying problem. Ive never seen a Toyota manual recommend belt dressing.

My guess is since you replaced the brush, the bearings are old and wearing out. Whining has to come from vibration which can either be an out of wack pulley, mis alignment, or signs of failing bearings.

Who really knows though, the bearings may last another 5 years before they destroy themselves.

 

Oh and those are sealed bearings. I don't recommend packing them with grease.