can i remove this bracket?

its like one of the only rust spots in my engine bay and appears to attach nothing??

it is coming off another metal support of some sort, up the drivers side of engine

 

Just shot some fluid film on that one yesterday when I changed my oil, rust is just starting
I assumed it did something, didn’t check, lol. In for answers about what it is

 

good idea, i need to grab a few more cans of that

only other rust on engine for me is the faces of the pulleys sadly. it kind of scares me to replace all those though, just out of my comfort zone...so at some point i might have that job done by mechanic, with new belt (wet morning is makes noise for a minute) only 90,000 miles though and belt looks fine condition

 

bump

 

I think the only purpose of that piece of metal is to protect the positive terminal on the alternator from things touching it. Since that post should be hot at all times, its connected to the battery.

 

But now you got me thinking about mine, cuz Im sure mine is rusted too. Now I gotta check, maybe clean it up a little and hit it with some black paint.

 

Haha yes that piece is weird. Believe it or not its purpose was to apparently prevent water from dripping on the alternator field connector

Strange but true

 

THANKS TO YOU AND taco sauce i dont think ill be removing it hahah because if thats the intent it works and is rusted-doing its job perhaps lol

i guess ill try to get some oil on it instead

 

Cice, makes total sense now. always seemed ussless

 

Dang. I was close

 

Interesting to learn that about that bracket haha. Figured I would mention the rust on the pulleys is probably on the thin metal cover plate/dust shield not the pulley or bearing itself. Just get new ones when you decide to replace them, its a super easy DIY aside from if you do the whole tensioner assembly. If you can change your oil and do brakes you can do them no problem! Attaching this diagram I made/added to for reference

 

thank you. i think i snipped that diagram to my tacoma diary word doc. thanks for the confidence and i was real glad to hear about those face plates!! not the actually pully
appreciate it

 

I’ve always wondered what this was !
I thought something broke off and obviously best course of action is to pretend like I saw NOTHING now I know its a badass little shield