Alternator brushes

[Silverfox1111]

Anyone replaced the brushes in the alternator? Are they a single piece & where did you get them?
Going to the Cape this year & was going to take spare brushes instead of a whole alternator.
Silverfox

[241steve]

ebay Ive done a couple of these things on prados not on a hilux.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/29619610589 ... L8QAvD_BwE

[Rob_Wood]

Good thinking 99? Maybe,. brushes are only one of many things in an alternator. Bearings, Regulator/ Rectifier, Connecting Terminations.
Your choice.
What's an alternator weigh? 1 or 2 kilos?

[Silverfox1111]

Just trying to take the spares that are the most likely needed rather than everything & try & save some weight. Brushes & bearings are more likely to fail due to water crossings, the rest of the alternator, in my opinion, should be OK. It is a '22 model so realistically it should be OK.
The other spare I'll be taking will be a starter motor.

[Rob_Wood]

Just trying to take the spares that are the most likely needed rather than everything & try & save some weight. Brushes & bearings are more likely to fail due to water crossings, the rest of the alternator, in my opinion, should be OK. It is a '22 model so realistically it should be OK.
The other spare I'll be taking will be a starter motor.

I understand completely what you're saying, that's why I worded the previous Post the way I did. Another thing that came to mind after that post is to consider the difference between stripping down an alternator to do bearings and brushes as against just changing out the alternator when you're in the middle of nowhere.
The other thing that just came to me is that if the 1 or 2 kilos of an alternator is a concern to your overall weight, then you might just maybe, possibly, sorta, kinda be running close to the limit?

[Rob_Wood]

To help on longer trips, our "standard" camping gear is limited to 3 of things like plates, cups, cutlery etc. One each for my wife, daughter and myself.
Limiting our camping gear like this makes more space for the essentials that might be needed for the 20YO Hilux or the fishing gear.

[241steve]

If an alternator gets wet why will the brushes fail? Wouldn't it be more likely to kill the regulator? If I was worried Id take a spare alternator. Will you get the cape out of the hilux after you return is the question

[Silverfox1111]

The concern is that with the many water crossings & the position of the alternator, the brushes wear due to running in water that has grit & or sand in it. The regulator should be sealed so I don't see that as a potential problem.

[Rob_Wood]

I really think you're reading a bit too much into it Fox, but ultimately the final decision is yours and you are the one who needs to be comfortable with the decision you make.

[241steve]

Whos actully rebuilt a toyota alternator made in the last 20 years and had it last? most alternators Ive taken off a toyota Ive thrown in the bin ok Ive only done a couple no auto elec is interested in rebuilding them, the few Ive thrown did alot of water crossing before the mud made its way between the worn brushs and rooted slip rings. the couple I've replace brushes in didn't last longer than a year. the other day I saw a ehco alternator with rooted bearings I couldn't work out how to open that one.

[Rob_Wood]

The other thing to remember is that sitting somewhere in the bush or next to a creek or river AND needing to do alternator repairs will mean :

Pulling out the alternator
Pulling the alternator apart, cleaning components (without dropping anything in the dirt or mud)
Digging out the replacement components
Putting them into the alternator
Putting it back together
Reinstalling it
Hoping for the best

OR

Pulling out the alternator
Reinstalling the replacement alternator
Hoping for the best

I know which option I'd prefer.

[Silverfox1111]

I also know what I'd prefer, but when your trying to travel as light as possible & still get to the top & back, compromises have to be made.

[Rob_Wood]

I also know what I'd prefer, but when your trying to travel as light as possible & still get to the top & back, compromises have to be made.

I understand completely, but as I said earlier, if 1 or 2 kilos (the weight of an alternator) is going to make a difference to your overall GCM, then you might want to look at other items that might not be "critically NEEDED" items.
Take 1 gas bottle, not 2 or maybe take 3 spare wheels, not 4. Are the wheels on the trailer the same as those on the towing vehicle? Limit your spares that way? Do you really need AF spanners? Most stuff is metric nowadays.
I clearly don't know what you're taking with you, but I feel certain you can look at other things.
My 2 cents.