di alternator bracket keeps snapping

[glenandemm]

hi has anyone ever had any problems with alternater bracket at top snapping and bolt head at bottom snapping also , alternater bearings feel ok and belt not been put on to tight,p.s has anyone seen that ametech engine restore that says it makes your engine like new, does it work?, just wondered coz my minibus has now done 190000 miles and starting to feel a little tired at low speed pulling,but does 85 mph top end with mods carried out!

[rover]

The biggest cause of alternator brackets snapping is the wrong size bolt in the bottom. (not the bottom of the bracket, the bottom of the alternator itself).

Rover.

[transitgeoff]

probably the oil pump cover and the littlebracket/spacer thingy on the back have a hole in them like a keyhole then the alternator sits wonky and so vibrates about and snaps the top adjuster, the only longterm known cure, change the oil pump cover, this involves cambelt off so put a new belt on at the same time

[OxtonyxO]

yeah had this prob too like the man aboove say you need to change the oil pump cover and the l shaped bracket at the back as this wears mine snap three bottom bolts and one top before i found the problem

[glenandemm]

cheers i'll check that out,is there nothing about trannies that you guys dont know on this site, the vehicles i mean not the ladyboys!!

[trannymanny]

My alternator top bracket snapped off on the way back from Greece last summer. Lucky for me I didn't look till I got home and the bolt held in the tiny bit of bracket left. However after replacing front alternator casing I have now noticed that the alternator is sitting wonky as the bush in the bottom swivel has collapsed.

Aint this casing part of the water pump bracket on a MKV 2.5DI and not the oil pump as suggested earlier in this thread and has anyone just replaced the bush within the bottom mount with a bit steel pipe or similar the correct diameter?

[billybun]

i drill them out and drive in a bush from the rear of the alternator that the bolt passes thro, unbolt the wishbone (thats what i call it) fitt a good one , most times fitted a replacement alt as it had worn the front holes oblongated .when i fit a new threw bolt at bottom i place a steel washer before the alts rear bush so when tightened it was trapped between rear wishbone and alt bush , one nice strong steady alt .this will prevent the rear bush pulling thro making the bolt loose ,good old vibration then takes over,the alt bracket snaps or worse the head or nut breaks of long bolt,either killing the viscous fan or maybe punturing the oil filter , i have come across both...best wishes Billy

[trannymanny]

Hi billybun

It would appear it is the front bottom mount that has gone but I presume you are advising me to replace the oil pump casing ( it's not the water pump ) rather than just mock up a replacement bush within the mount?

As I'm off to euroland for a 6000+ mile 5 week jaunt next month this probably makes good sense as the ole van takes a fair bit bruising on some of europes worst goat tracks.

Worth buying from scrapper? will they all be about the same state??

regards trannyman

[billybun]

Good afternoon Trannyman . well this is down to personal prefrence as the ones i have repaired in this manner are still rolling thousands of miles later . There should be plenty in the breakers yards that are in good condition ,there not all worn .But for total peace of mind then it would be best to buy a brand new part .Dont forget to get a new front crankshhaft seal if replacing the oil pump cover . Finger tighten the cover bolts in first instance There is a set order to tighten the oil pump cover bolts,as if you just go round them the cover can get an hairline crack and shows is self just when you most need the van ie in greece ..Looking front on at the oil pump cover to the left you will see a oil pipe to which the rubber black hose attaches from vacum pump ,working anti clockwise from lower right of this pipe the bolts are numbered
4 * 2 * 11* 10 * 1* 3 *12 * 5 * 7 * 9 * 8 and finally 6 (which is above oil pipelooking from front on ) if you follow this tighting order starting at 1 then 2 etc you cant go wrong, hope this helps Billy

[trannymanny]

Had slam panel and rad out today for timing belt, tensioner, water pump and crank shaft oil seal replacement. Then opted just to drill out elongated holes in oil pump case mount, right through with 12.8mm bit then tapped in alternator bushes front and back. The long bolt that passes through the mount was well worn. A replacement nut and bolt cost a FIVER from Ford stealer if you can find one that actually carrys them in stock. I phoned 5 b4 finding one and had 40 mile round trip

All done now though

[indipop]

Hi all, Hope someone is still 'watching' this post as I have the same problem. Mount is fine (not snapped) but bottom bolt has sheared off completely!

Question for TrannyManny (or others): how did you get the old bolt out (ie the bit that's still in the thread of the mount)? I've got the rad, fan etc off but there's nothing to get a hold of on the bolt... hmm. I'd drill it but don't want to balls up and damage something!

Any help appreciated!

Thanks,

Shaun