I've heard that an easy way to get the alternator out is to just remove the master cylinder from the brake booster and pull the alternator out through the top. My question is: won't the insides of the master cylinder all come out when it's disconnected from the brake booster? The shop manual shows it's spring loaded and I don't want another headache on my hands.

 

what kind of car is it

 

It is spring loaded INTERNALLY, just don't go disassembling your Master Cylinder during a beer break and you should be fine.

 

I just dropped the driver side axle from the trans. alternator came right out the bottom with little or no real trouble. This was on my b18 swapped crx.

My friend said he had to do the same on his stock si though.....wish I had known that earlier, spent a damn hour trying to wiggle that bastard out before hand...lol

 

I had to change my alternator twice in a week thanks to a defective rebuilt unit. Thank you Canadian Tire! (I know, I deserved it...) Anyway, I found it to be pretty quick and easy to just drop drivers side axle and pull it out(same as above). What a pain in the *** for an alternator though..

 

take the intake air box ***. off and then slide the alternator up, i had to kind of play with it to get it out, but it came out ..... im not sure if this makes a diff. on what kind of motor but i have a d16z6 in my crx. hope this helps

 

unbolt the alternator and slide it behind the engine and pull it up through the passenger side. No need to pull the axle or remove the master cyl

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PURPLETERROR aka BIGMATT &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">unbolt the alternator and slide it behind the engine and pull it up through the passenger side. No need to pull the axle or remove the master cyl</TD></TR></TABLE>

Good luck with that on a swapped crx, at least using hcp mounts.....might be different with other mounts.

I also can not say for sure with d series, since never had to be done when I was d series.

I also custom modded my upper alternator mount, because for some reason I wasn't able to really adjust tension very much before hand.

 

i've replaced a couple on a d crx. never removed anything to get it in or out.

 

seriously... everyones got their own way...

the alternator will come out without taking anything off other than the lower alt bracket. pull it out over the driver side axle.

this only applies to regular d series, i have no idea if youre swapped.

 

yep everyone has there own way, u can pass it behind the motor to the p side, but its really easy to puncture a heater hose. also u cant do it on a b-series civic unlees that stupid intake mani brace is gone. next method is pulling the axle, fun but alot of work for an alternator. tyson is right as well on the bottom alt bracket way of doing it but some mount kits wont let u do it that way. next up is my personal way of doing it and the posters question. I just pop off the 2 12mm bolts on the master cyl and pull it off the power booster. nothing will come flying out and u will be able to see what kinda shape the master cyl is in by looking for fluid thats dribbled down the booster. once the master cyl is off flip it up a little, u will have plenty of brake line flex to do this. next just pull the 12 and 14mm bolts off the alt and the wiring, then just pull the alt right up and out by the pulley. i just put in a 160 amp alt and it took me 10 min to do. everyone has there own way of doing things, i just shoot for the least amount of work when i come up with a plan of attack to sum up and answer your ? the master cyl way is the quickest and easieast in my opinion, even in my b-series hatch with teg booster and 1" master cyl i had no problems. good luck man

 

Thanks for the input guys! FYI this is an 88 DX sedan, stock motor, d15b2 I believe. I don't know much about EFs, I'm an EG guy

I appreciate the confirmation that I can pull off the master cylinder without all it's insides flying out! Looks like that's the method I will use. There is no way I am pulling the axle off just for the alternator... I live in WI and I'm doing this on the side of the road!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">seriously... everyones got their own way...

the alternator will come out without taking anything off other than the lower alt bracket. pull it out over the driver side axle.

this only applies to regular d series, i have no idea if youre swapped.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ditto.

 

youll have an easier time pulling it out OVER the axle.. just have to take the wheel off, which i assume you would already to get to the alternator mount.

point the pulley face upwards and the bottom of the alt pointed outward towards you. it will fit like a glove. thats the way its supposed to come out.

but do whatever you wish.

 

hm. i'm strating to wonder if i took the more difficult way out, but i can at least confirm that you absolutely can get it out of a d without taking anything off except the bracket- not even the wheel.

another "side of the road in the winter" experience

::

 

take off the alternator Bracket(bottom) and that's all

 

I just did that today, all you have to do is unbolt the alt. from under the car. Take the adjusting bolt from the top (the one that you can adjust the belt. After that just have to jiggle and wiggle its way out.

This is from a D-series perspective.... GL