Alternator pulley digging into alternator!

[waqasr]

So i made a thread a while back about a weird sound from the engine bay and it turns out it is the alternator pulley actually digging into and grinding away at the alternator housing!

Ive ordered a new pulley and belt plus the tool but I have a long drive coming up in the morning and am wondering is it safe for me to drive it like this? I have been for a few weeks but would a long motorway journey mess it up even more?

Has anyone seen this happen before? Do i need a whole new alternator instead of just the pulley? As far as I can tell its only cosmetic damage to the alternator itself.

[pudding]

You need to establish if the excessive lateral play is caused by A) a failed clutch pulley, or B) a failed bearing in the alternator.

Scenario A is just a new pulley.  Scenario B requires an alternator rebuild.  Put a pry bar between the pulley and alternator and see what moves when you start prying.