93 mercury sable: starter makes grinding noise!

k i've got a 93 mercury sable 3.8L v6 and im pretty sure the bendix gear on my starter has gone out it was making a terrible grinding noise every time i went to start the car. now it wont even start at all: no spinning, no grinding, no starting. im going to pull it off and have a look (im pretty sure its just jammed). i was using the search engine and i priced out starters for it on ebay at 40 - 50$ and repair kits for 35$. more than i would like to pay but if i have to i have to... by any chance anyone know where i can find just the bendix gear for the starter online or in the san diego area? any help or advice would be greatly appreciated thanks!

Try a couple of scrap yards. Look in the yellow pages for an alternator starter re builder. some of them will sell parts.

ended up finding one thanks, and wouldnt you know it - the starter was loose...