Alternator spacer placement?

[Geff McCarthy]

I have been advised to insert a spacer between the arms of the "pivot" holes in my new alternator, besides the spacers on the 2 other bolts. I cannot deduce what loads this spacer would carry...
Unless the alternator itself deformed as I tighten the pivot bolt, the spacer would not carry any load, correct? thanks in advance.

 

[MOPOWER871]

Hi, yes the case deforms causing in my case the shaft and pulley to lock up.

 

[66Satellite47]

Yes you need the spacer.

 

[Big Bad Dad]

Ditto on the spacer. Not having it can deform the housing and even break off the ears.

 

[Demonic]

^^^ As noted above. You would eventually stress the ears of the casting. The spacer prevents the ears from collapsing toward each other.

 

[dadsbee]

 

[Geff McCarthy]

THANKS to all! Yes, Sirs and Madames, i am off to our local mega hardware store to buy a cheap spacer, even if I need to cut to length! Dadsbee thanks for the very convincing photo!

 

[Nacho-RT74]

Once the bolt got broken on my car because the absence of the rear spacer due the vibration. Being an AC car and having a non AC lower alt bracket didn't help either