Topic: possible market for Lower alternator bracket made of steel?

[Bigboi]

in my experience with my 2.5, i have learned the lower alternator bracket is very fragile and not worth buying another OEM @ $60-75 each being that they are cast from some very low grade aluminum, and could break easily, i am looking into making one out of steel, and wondering if i should make a couple more and see if selling them would be something i could do

seeing as i went to the only 2.5 in an orlando junkyard and the lower alternator bracket was broken in the same exact place

[VA_YJ]

This not a bad idea you have.  Also, I know from experience with Cherokees that the XJ crowd likes to find YJ brackets to raise their alternators out of the mud and water.  Only issue is that most of the XJs have the 6 cylinder.

[Jeffy]

This not a bad idea you have.  Also, I know from experience with Cherokees that the XJ crowd likes to find YJ brackets to raise their alternators out of the mud and water.  Only issue is that most of the XJs have the 6 cylinder.

The 1991-1995 YJ bracket is the same for both 2.5L and 4.0L's.  I think it's even the same for 2.5L TJ's as well.

Even though they do break occasionally, I don't really see much of a market for a steel one.  At least for the Wrangler crowd.  Bigboi's got a MJ, IIRC though.

[Bigboi]

98 Dakota 2.5/AX-15 5 spd

So the 1998 4.0 lower alternator bracket is the same in the 2.5?

1998 4.0 bracket:


1998 2.5 bracket:


i see that the 4.0 is very similar in the front mounting, but where the bracket for the 2.5 has a steel brace, whereas the 4.0 bracket is molded to mount to the block as 1 peice, does this make a difference, if not, theres about 200 jeep cherokees in orlando i could pull from

[Jeffy]

98 Dakota 2.5/AX-15 5 spd

So the 1998 4.0 lower alternator bracket is the same in the 2.5?

1998 4.0 bracket
1998 2.5 bracket

Okay, lets start over.  He was talking about something completely different.  He was talking about changing the upper mount.

No, the 2.5L lower bracket is not the same as the 4.0L.  The reason being is that the 2.5L uses the same holts that the 4.0L bracket does for the engine mount.  That's why the other half of the bracket is stamped steel and the cast aluminum piece holts to it.

Here's both parts shown in the diagram which correlates with your pics.  The 4.0L part would be 9 while the 2.5L part is 8.





In any case, I don't think they'll sell that well.  I've never heard of this being an issue with YJ's or TJ's.  XJ'ers complain occasionally but I tihnk they're usually the 4.0L brackets.  If you're going to make one anyway, I'd make two nad keep it as a spare.  All the Jeep 2.5L's should have that same lower bracket.  MJ, XJ, YJ and TJ.  The XJ's would be the most common as thye sold the most vehicles.

[Bigboi]

with a cheap as the aluminum it was casted out of, then look at the design, the alternator is only held on the bottom by the tip of the bracket, which can easily break off like what happened in mine, and i went to pull one in orlando and it was broken on the same place, seems like a common issue to me....

[chardrc]

i wouldn't say ALL 2.5L's use the same alternator bracket. The tbi and carb used a v-belt and the alternator was up high (where the AC compressor is on the mpfi 2.5l). you could say ALL MPFI / serpentine belted 2.5L's use the same lower alternator bracket. not that that info realy helps since you can't (shouldn't) go back to belt....

[Jeffy]

i wouldn't say ALL 2.5L's use the same alternator bracket. The tbi and carb used a v-belt and the alternator was up high (where the AC compressor is on the mpfi 2.5l). you could say ALL MPFI / serpentine belted 2.5L's use the same lower alternator bracket. not that that info realy helps since you can't (shouldn't) go back to belt....

I made the stipulation earlier about it being 2.5L MPFI.  

[Bigboi]

all im saying is, as cheap aluminum as they used, and how expensive they are, and how hard they are to find, ive been looking for weeks, cant find a jeep anywhere or even a dakota 2.5 to begin with, and they sell on ebay for $75 OEM, and i figure why pay $75 and it could easily break again, or just make one out of steel and call it a day,  but i noticed that its not flat

Where it attaches to the block, is offset to the bolt hole which attaches to the alternator, from how i peiced my broken one together, thats what it looks like

[grumpygy]

I on a daily basis make up drawing from tools and Parts and can say for a fact you will pay at least twice what a OEM part would cost to have it made.  Doing stuff like that for a one off part could get real expensive.  Cost goes way down if you have multiples made.  Tool setup costs will eat you alive.

[sharpxmen]

at the j/y i usually shop they put all the alternator brackets in a scrap bin, any of those is around $10, imo better put the effort into something else.

[Bigboi]

but, i cant just leave my alternator sitting in mid air...... its being held tight with a 2x4 that keeps popping out, and since its popped out, i destroyed my brand new radiator.....

im not gonna pay $75 for a piece of cast aluminum that can break again, $75 is insane for that little tiny bracket

the bracket is offset from what i can see, so i cant just use a straight piece of metal, it has to have somewhat of an angle/bend to it

[grumpygy]

Pay $75 or at least $350 to have one made.

[Bigboi]

i can get someone to make one for me, which wont be anywhere near $350, if i made one, id make a few...


but i am looking at something Very Very simple, one steel bar in the front right now to see how it holds, and then im gonna see about adding something to the back, but im tired of having to adjust the piece of 2x4 sometimes several times in a day, sometimes every few days...

[Jeffy]

but, i cant just leave my alternator sitting in mid air...... its being held tight with a 2x4 that keeps popping out, and since its popped out, i destroyed my brand new radiator.....

im not gonna pay $75 for a piece of cast aluminum that can break again, $75 is insane for that little tiny bracket

the bracket is offset from what i can see, so i cant just use a straight piece of metal, it has to have somewhat of an angle/bend to it

You're asking two different things.  The main question being, should I go into production with a steel one.  The general consensus is no.  There's no market for it.

The other question seems to be should you make a new bracket.  Sure, if you've got the tools or you can get someone to make one cheap.  Seems like it would be easy to make with some 3/16" or 1/4" flat stock.  Then just drill all the holes and use nuts for the bolts.  No need to weld.  You'd probably have to make some spacers or use some washers to space it properly.  Probably where the support arm attaches from the back side.

Maybe something like this.



Though on eBay, you can get a lower bracket for around $18-20 when they appear.