Valeo alternator quality

[Peter Orban]

Looking at the pulleys, at least on the Golf/Jetta, the alternator runs about 2.5 to 3 times the speed of the engine.
Yes, it is a cheaply rebuilt alternator on the Golf. 
The alternator failed, one wire of the field coil was not soldered correctly to the new slip ring. (The ring and the brushes of the regulator were new, I do not think it had more that 15 - 20 KMiles on the rebuild.) That was the time when I noticed the loose bearing. It was a FAG bearing, I looked at it just now. Unfortunately, the replacement bearing was also FAG, that is the one that is loose now after about 15KMiles of use.
When I got this replacement bearing I did not know the name of the failed bearing, I did not look, but where I got the bearing, the FAG was the only brand name available, or I could have bought some noname bearing. The sales guy said they were probably made at the same plant, just different packaging. He was probably right. 
BTW, that alternator failed soon again, that time one of the the solderings of the rectifying bridge came apart... So yes, high quality rebuild!
The Jetta's alternator is still original, only 65KMiles on the car. I have not taken it apart yet, do not know what bearing it uses, but it is loose too. It should not be, not even at 65KMiles!

Peter