alternator problems

[tavius]

I am having the hardest time getting the aternator out of the car.I have all the bolts removed and i can handle the alternator freely, but i can seem to snake it through the hole in the wheel well. I even took off the surge tank because i am getting the p1518 code so i was going to wire the secondaries open. i have read the subframe needs to be dropped? Is this true? Does one need air power tools for this. please help give me any advice you can.

 

[nothingtoseehere]

Click Me

 

[avocadoman1]

use the link above to figure it out. i did.
i changed out mine all by my lonesome, last year. i've got monster hands too!
even with gloves on they got all chewed up.
iirc, the top rear bolt was a toughy.
also, rotating it properly so that the old one could exit (and the new one enter) via the passenger wheel well is a difficult step.

 

[Inkertinker]

I changed my alternator 2 weeks ago, I removed the tie-rod end and the swaybar link and it came right out. I did however need a blood transfusion after I removed and replaced the top bolt on the alternator.

 

[Motoman991]

Take off the tie rod end and lower the sub frame on that side of the car by losing up the 2 bolts on that side.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

I've probably replaced 40 or 50 V8 SHO alternators, and only once had to lower the subframe (and that was only because the pulley was oversized).

If you have to lower the subframe to change the alt, you're doing it wrong.

 

[Motoman991]

I did it because it gave me more room to work with.

 

[avocadoman1]

i don't like the idea of dropping the subframe. last time i did that (for aluminum sub-frame bushings) it ended up costing me a re-alignment. that is, if you don't put it back together perfectly, it lines up differently. atleast it did in my case.
i did uncouple the tie-rod which helped a bit.

 

[SHOZ123]

It should really be referred to as lowering one side of the sub frame. You don't actually drop the entire sub frame. If you keep any two sub frame bolts tight you will not loose your alignment.

As far as doing it the "wrong way" I guess that is a bit subjective. I will always remove something to do the job easier. No sense scraping up my knuckles or making the job more difficult. Especially in this case where it takes all of a minute to loosen the bolts with an air wrench.

It's also the way I remove the struts but that is probably not the "right way" either. Sure makes it easier and much less stress on the ball & CV joints though.