Stripped the alternator bracket on my 98 Ford Ranger last Tuesday trying to save $60

I was dead set on fixing it with cash only and no mechanic, but after snapping the last bolt in half and having to borrow a ride from my neighbor anyway, I finally broke down and paid a shop $120 to do it right - has anyone else hit a wall where cash only just made things worse?

2 comments

2 Comments

parkerk5620h ago

Alternator bolts are usually 8mm not 10mm on Rangers.

sarah_brown16h ago

Oh man, you're probably right and I just made this way harder on myself than it needed to be. Last time I swapped an alternator on my old Ranger I spent a solid 20 minutes cussing at that bracket because my 10mm socket was just slightly too big and kept wobbling off. Should've just grabbed my 8mm right from the start but no, I had to be stubborn and think "it's gotta be 10, that's the universal bolt size for everything". Big surprise, the alternator bolts were 8mm and I felt like the biggest idiot when I finally checked the right socket. At least now I know for next time, assuming I don't forget by then.