You don't happen to have a huge system installed? If you have one of those 1000 Watt jobs, it could cause the lights to dim whenever a bass note hits. Otherwise fix the alternator, and a resistor in not a replacement for a rectifier diode.

 

And let us know the end result of this project.

 

I would have no problem changing out the voltage regulator, are there any how-to's on the site or should it be fairly straight forward?

My sound system is around the 1500 watt mark but it does that when the stereo and amp is off.

As far as the bearings go are they easy to replace as well?

I don't know a whole lot about alternators but i'd assume it's no different than an electric motor. Brushes, magnets, bearings, etc...

Thanks for the tips, might save me from buying a new alt... Even though they are fairly cheap.

 

I'm sure there's a how-to somewhere if you google it. I took pictures last time I rebuilt an alternator, and was planning on posting a how to. Just another thing to get around to doing! Yeah, it's pretty straight forward. If you've had an electric motor apart and back together (successfully), you should be fine. As far as the bearings, I've never had a sloppy one, so always just regreased them. What usually makes them go bad is they run dry and then lock up. Technically, they're a "sealed" bearing, but I can get the end seal off without damaging it.

 

Sounds good, well I will search Google and give it a go.