Ford Repair: Engine squeal, crankshaft bearings, mercury mountaineer

Question
Have 1997 Mercury Mountaineer, 5.0 liter.  Engine squeals with serpentine belt off the engine when I started it.  One mechanic wants to pull my engine to replace the crankshaft bearings and a close friend called a ford mechanic and says that its a distributor synchronizer.  My vehicle is at the garage who thinks that it's the bearings and didn't know if you have encountered or heard of any other options to the noise.

Answer
hey there, bearings will NEVER make a squeeling noise like that, the synchronizer is a very more reliable anwser to that, I think that your friend that called ford has the right idea. Solid steal Bearings do not squeal,if anything if the bearing where failing you would get a knocking noise out of the engine. good luck
Chris P