Alternator brush change

[forestdan7]

Nice writeup and great pictures. I'm inspired now. Time to change them out.

Funny thing is, every time my alt and brake lights come on, the voltage never dips. I wonder if it's a ground somewhere instead of the brushes.

But if it's this easy, I'm going to do it anyway. Then I'll chase down a ground.

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

My lights came on for months before I changed them, and I never had a power issue. Funny thing was the lights would come on right when I started the truck, but if I turned it off and restarted, then most of the time they would stay off..... They never came on while driving, either right when I started and stay on... or not at all....

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Nice write up Jerod.

But MY alternator DOES have oil lines running to it. No, I'm not kidding.

Dan

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

At this point we're going to have to see pics..... clear pics.... Sorry Dan! Hehe

 

[EVILSPOTTER]

My oil lines may be missing! Please post pics- I only have the ones that run from the alternator to the blinker fluid reservoir.............

 

[DanS HJ-45]

This is the clearest pic I could find. I'll go get more tomorrow afternoon.

See, the oil lines on the diesel have to run to the alternator for the vacuum pump. If the oil lines were to fail, the alternator would still work, but I doubt my brakes would be worth a dang. :flipoff:

So yes, my alternator does have oil lines running to it. But on the 22R-E engine, the alternator didn't. If anyone else is messing with theirs on the 2LT-E, the copper washer for the banjo fitting is a pain to replace. Apparently they don't cross over to a N.A. Toyota part.

Dan

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Lame. Pic didn't work right and I don't seem to be able to edit it to work...

Dan

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Dan.... that's too clean! Bring it to the 45 Run next year and take on the pit!!!

 

[DanS HJ-45]

That's a pic right after I first finished the conversion.

Right now, not so much. I've put 3000+ miles on it from NM to MT and back in the past two weeks. I actually like my truck after it's been on the road in the winter. The little spikes of water that freeze around my rear hubs look awesome.

It's right now in the garage warming up (and melting) so I can clean it up enough for a picture of the alternator and it's oil lines to show up.

Other than for maintenance (and maybe one or twice a year to get some good wax on there to protect it), trucks shouldn't be clean. They're trucks. you have no idea how much fun I make of my dad when he puts Armor-All on his tires....

As to the 45 run.... if it's not my HJ, it'll be this. And I was thinking about a snorkle while driving home today....

Dan

 

[Foreigner]

This thread saved me $165 today. I was almost finished with a 120 mile trip this morning, just pulling into town, and the 'Runner conked out. No Juice. Battery read 9.xx volts. My bro-in-law came jumped it enough to get to the house.

Rebuilt alternator: $170

Brushes: $5.09 and a little relaxing wrench time

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Beauty!

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Funny that. I just took the alternator out of the chica's 4-runner, and thought: didn't someone have a good writeup on the brush replacement, and wouldn't that be a good idea right now?

I'll make a trip to See Dan (get it--CDan!!!) tomorrow....

Dan

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

I'll make a trip to See Dan (get it--CDan!!!) tomorrow....

You don't need to wave that in our faces... (Lucky!) Tell Dan I said hi!

 

[Jukelemon]

Finally did mine today..it was 68 degrees out !!

On my truck, it was no easy easy task. My pivot bolt was really seized in the alternator and the clearance between the pivot points were so small that I had to use a hammer and pry to align the holes after brush replacement.

What's more, when I was there I found a hairline crack in my radiator at the lower hose nipple. Nice.

So, altogether a 3.5 hour ordeal to include new lower hose, new coolant, alt removal, brush replacement and reassmbly.

BUT...it is done and my charging system is happy.

 

[Foreigner]

Funny that. I just took the alternator out of the chica's 4-runner, and thought: didn't someone have a good writeup on the brush replacement, and wouldn't that be a good idea right now?

Yeah, that's what happened to me. Weirdest thing to remember, eh?

What's more, when I was there I found a hairline crack in my radiator at the lower hose nipple. Nice.

Did you take it down? I went out the top. . .just pulled two hoses. Bummer about the crack, but at least you found it before it got nasty.

 

[Jukelemon]

Yeah, I went from the bottom. IF the damn alternator was not so seized in the pivot, it would have been a cake walk.

That is when I noticed the leaking radiator.

All fixed now.

 

[WristPin]

so I'll throw a wrench in here and say i did NOT replace my brushes this weekend