AC Compressor making racket

[Mac626]

1998 626 6cyl DOHC

I started hearing a noise under the hood the other day that sounds to me like a bearing going out. If I turn the AC on the noise gets worse (louder and more stressed), and it improves (still quite loud but smoother) when I turn it off. The noise seems to be coming from the area of the AC compressor, but the Alternator is nearby too.

My partshouse says that since the noise is constant but varies when the AC is turned off and on, that the AC pulley bearing is probably going out. The guy told me that the bearing is about $30 and I have to rent a puller to get to it under the pulley.

Does this sound right? If so, do I have to disconnect the AC compressor or can I just take off the belt and replace the bearing from below without disconnecting the AC compressor from the system?

Any advice would be appreciated... Thanks

Mac