Layer shift, Y axis issues

Hello! Hope all of you are well. Have a A1 currently experiencing some pretty consistent layer shift, looking for some help. Series of parts in question are around 5" tall, shifts start after the 2" height mark, between 1/2"-1" between layer shifts. Shift appears to be strictly in Y axis. Started out printing fine, now it trashes every part. Opened the base up, found a lot of black dust and metal glitter. Belt tracking ot the far left; when moved front and back to the far right moves back to the far left with manual motion of the bed a few times back anf forth. Metal strip on the top of the front belt tensioner is bent, badly. Not sure what the name of it is, but it bolts on right on top of the front return pulley. Shown here: A1 Y-axis Installation Tutorial | Bambu Lab Wiki center picture very tail end of Step 2. See attached for pic of same on my unit.

and also

Would like to know what this part is, what it’s function is, whether or not it could be responsible for the belt tracking and/or layer shifting. Is the layer shifting related to the belt tracking? Belt tension appears to be fine.