Alternator tensioner piece with the teeth

[BaltimoreBimmer]

So I went to detension my alternator and the piece with the teeth that the toothed nut is supposed to rotate on essentially flattened all the teeth on the bracket. Has this happened to anyone before? I detensioned the 13mm lock nut and then used a 19mm wrench to rotate the nut. It went a small bit then straight up flattened/pushed back the remaining teeth so the nut just rotates freely.

I went ahead and ordered a new bracket. I guess I need to really start using PB blaster? Anyone have tips on how not to break all the old shit on these cars??

[PKile]

Did you loosen the pivot bolt on the opposite side of the alternator?

[BaltimoreBimmer]

Did you loosen the pivot bolt on the opposite side of the alternator?

Ok. So turns out it's actually the power steering pump bracket. So I ordered the wrong piece. Going to have to contact them and swap it out.


No I did not loosen any pivot point on the ps pump, assuming it's the same. That's definitely why the teeth crushed, although it did move initially. So.......I haven't been able to find a part number for that piece on realoem. Can anyone help me out? I've looked at al the drill downs....

[dnguyen1963]

Your lower mounting bolt might be corroded preventing the alternator to move. Loosen this bolt will help.

[BaltimoreBimmer]

Thanks guys. Found the correct part on realoem after all. 30 bucks for a new ps pump adjusting bar... Yay mistakes!!

Bently is honestly pretty annoying considering there are so many different kinds of e30s. Odds of having a picture of your actual application seems rare...

So the alternator is held on by only two bolts? The adjusting one and the pivot bolt? Interesting.