Mr. Death

I had to change my alternator again as they keep dying on me at the start of the season so I decided to document the install. One way of getting at the alternator is to remove the master cylinder. This is alot easier then removing the drive shaft but requires bleeding the brakes which is a major pain in the butt. I decided to remove the drive shaft and take the alternator out via the inner fender. Here we go.

First off unplug negative terminal on battery.

Next remove wheel and 32mm nut from drive shaft. If you don't have a 32 mm socket Partsource has a lend a tool program for free.

Next remove drive shaft from car by removing dampner fork from lower control arm and remove steering knuckle from LCA. You will need pliers or Vice grips to take the cotter pin out then remove cotter pin. Here's a pic of the dampner fork seperated from LCA

Pry drive shaft from tranny or in my case half shaft. Have a pan under tranny to catch any tranny fluid that escapes.

Mr. Death

Now we can move onto the alternator. Pic speaks for itself..

Then this guy here

Loosen tension from belt and remove.

Now remove alternator bracket.


Time to bleed.

Remove fender liner. Remove alternator from inside fender wheelwell.

Give the finger to the pain in the but which caused you so much grief.

Now that the old unit is out install the new piece and tell all your friends you did it yourself and saved yourself a couple of bucks.

chris_si98

side cutters would be ideal for the cotter pin.. vise grips suck.

good diy.

imported_loudsubz

good DIY

lots of extra steps though, dont need to take off the axle etc

Mr. Death

I tried removing the ALT without removing the axle and it would not go. I've heard that it can be done but under the circumstances with my swap and axle configuration it would not come out. THanks for the replies.

Mr.Death

chris_si98

yeah I was going to say something.. but I thought maybe on the ef's it was different

imported_Lonely Racer

Do u have an engin swap on this?
and do u do lot of high reving?
nice post

Mr. Death

d16z6 and I like to give er once and a while. Why do you ask??

imported_jdm_ef2

qui?

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

actually, I believe if you pass the alternator behind the engine, under the intake manifold, towards the pass side, it comes out that way. I've removed my alternator and on my buddy's EF... about 5-6 times.

Mr. Death

That is the only thing I did NOT try. Next year when I have to install my next alternator I 'll keep that in mind

90CRXSi

^Good diy, bbarlo ill try your method. sounds good.

Cynikal.Mindset

yea for sure axle dont need to be removed...I changed my alt on the side of the road before

duge1

you don't have to take the driveshaft out. you can take off the lower alternator mount. (two 14mm bolts) and then it will wiggle out. i've done about 500 of these its really easy. if you have a b-series tho, you must just crack the ball joint. not completely remove the shaft, just out of the ball joint and you can wiggle it that way

Regards
Doug

imported_Nefarious

i had a ***** of a time with this as well.... and you dont need to take the axle out.... last summer i did this on a dohc zc in my ef and got so frustrated i look off my master clylinder to take the thing out.... well from messin around with it a few weeks ago.. i figured out that if you jack the drivers side of the car up enough... slide blocks underneath to prevent the chance of the car collapsing on you... slide under the car a bit and force the the tire to the ground and she wiggles out without a problem..........

unbelievableEG

instead of removing the axle just carry the alternator along the back of the firewall and pull it up and out from the passenger side of the car where you're intake would be

imported_Nefarious

i have tried that before and it wasnt commin out that way