brushes, replacement

[D Conner <conner@cfm.ohio-state.edu>]

On Tue, 22 Apr 1997 12:46:06 -0700 (PDT) Jon Blake wrote:
>From: Jon Blake <jonb@u.washington.edu>
>Subject: Re: '87 5KCSTQ Electrical Gremlins
>Take a look at your alternator brushes. At 100k miles, I replaced mine for
>all of about $5.00. One of the two was definitely out of standard. Car is
>at 124K miles now and yet to see a problem.
>	- jon

Jon,
I'd like to check the brushes on my alternator and starter...on all my cars.
Problem is when I crawl under the car to look, I don't know what I'm looking at.

On the alternator, do you need to remove it from the car to get at the brushes?
I guess they are accessible from the rear of the alternator, but don't know
where to start.
If I took it off the car maybe I could figure it out.  Do I need to
disassemble it to get at them?

Re: the starter...I think others have posted that the brushes could be
changed with the starter on the car.
Here again...I guess I don't know what I'm looking at.
I expected to see screw caps on the side of the motor which would have the
brushes under them.  Not so.

TIA for any help.
Dave C.