Alternator Replace on my 2007 W/5.7

Holy Smokes Tundra folks. I had a squeal like a bearing failing on cold mornings. I diagnosed the alternator my son said it was the power steering pump. Looked around the net and saw the power steering pump can be the problem. So we ordered a new one and set out to fix it. That isn't the easiest job but not too bad. We flushed the system completely as well. So the next cold morning it was still squealing. Alternator time! The 150 ampers are costly but I need the truck as our Honda is also waiting on timing belt repair. So we jack the front end up again and take the power steering pump out of the way and remove the alternator. What pain in the buttox that alternator was to replace. I've owned about 150+ vehicles in 51 years of owning cars and have NEVER seen an alternator take 2 capable wrench's 4 hours to accomplish. My opinion is the designer of the placement of that alt. was fired by FORD and lied on his resume when interviewing with Toyota! I LOVE the truck but DANG I hope this alt. lasts till I die.

 

Already went through this on my 2017 so I feel your pain. It’s like they looked for the worst possible spot to put it and found a way to make it work. Mine can get the squeals after playing in dust so I try to be proactive about cleaning it up after hitting the dirt.

 

My 1997 T100 is still rocking the original alternator at 262,000 miles and 25 years. I did put in a 3rd set of alternator brushes 1,000 miles ago as a preventative measure. I had all the belts off for replacement and did it while I was there.