Starter motor growling

[Chazbee]

My starter motor is working perfectly well but as it’s thrown out of mesh when the engine fires it makes a loud growling noise as it slows down and stops. This is most noticeable when the engine fires but doesn’t start - maybe it does it all the time but the noise is drowned out by the general cacophony! It’s a knackered bearing sound but I believe there are only bushes- are these replaceable if this could be the culprit?

[myoldjalopy]

First check the screws holding the starter together are tight - I had a growling starter once, cured by tightening up a loose screw!