Last weekend, I had to replace the starter in my 996. "While I was in there", I thought I'd also replace the alternator-starter-battery cable. In order to replace the cable, the alternator needs to come out.
When I got the alternator out, it sounded like the video below (ignore the video, just listen to the sound). The bearing isn't good, but its not really bad either. As you can see from the video, I had to get up pretty close to record the sound. I couldn't hear anything when it was in the car. I decided to replace it but a few friends have said that they would have left it.
Would you have replaced it or left it until it squealed like a banshee?