Getting ready to do some P/S pump maintanence and if I have the time I want to do some PM on the alternator too.

I have 183,000 on a 1993 LS400.

I've usually just thrown brushes in alternators when they wear down but was wondering if I should throw a voltage regulator in also.

I see the $50 dollar ones on the net, then there's the $140 ones from Lexus (ouch). Another option is going with a local rebuilder if I can find a decent one and I assume that will be $150-200 with seals, brushes, bearings and maybe a new voltage regulator.

Any opinions? Is the voltage regulator a common failure mode for non-P/S fluid fried alternators?

Thanks