The starter to my '93 Blazer has been making sounds lately....or I think it's the starter anyway.
The problem started (no pun intended) about a month ago.
When I start the vehicle the starter engages, turns the engine just fine till the motor starts, then when I let the ignition return to center position I hear a vibrating sound as though metal is vibrating on metal. I didn't pin point the location of the sound but it seemed to be coming from the starter.
I dropped the starter a little bit ago and tested it according to the Hanes manual (COonnected the jumper cables to the battery then jumped the starter). She engaged, and spun up, but then after a few seconds it would reach peak rotation, and would begin wobbling.
The inside of the starter housing that protects the teeth has some copper colored metal shavings built up.

My assumption is that the teeth are getting warn, as are the bushing, and so when it tries to disengage the worn teeth partially catch (throwing the operation off a little bit), and the worn bushings allow the gear to vibrate as it slows rotation.

The engine has 140,000 miles on it, I don't know about the starter, but it looks old, and it's heavier than I'd thought it would be (maybe the original)?

Does it sound like the starter might be going bad and needs to be replaced, or am I wrong in my assumption?
Also, would it be bad to keep running the old starter till it dies completely?

 

Sounds like you're starter is hanging against the flywheel to me also. I would swap it sooner than later as you "may" start stripping teeth on the flywheel. I say "may" because, again with the "", "supposedly" the flywheel gear is considerably harder than the gear on the starter but why take the chance?

 

I agree replace the starter.... or you will have a mess...changing the starter is alot cheaper than pulling the tranny or engine out to replace the flywheel

 

If I decide to buy a starter online through some discount store should I be avoiding....or be looking for any specific brands of starters?