I've been having issues with my tensioner bolt breaking, running a Bosch alternator, i get it set to where it's not squealing (I bought her squealing) runs for a few days then dies and the battery needs charged. Then the tension ends up snapping off. This last time I replaced a few mounting parts for the tensioner bracket and it seemed good, when I got the tensioner in it was angled. I didn't notice how angled until the next day and started messing with it and snapped it again. Smh. Anyone know? My 4th bolt. Car ran for 2 days no squealing then died, charged the battery then snapped the tensioner. Also photos of my Volvo.
Been driving other cars, trying to put time into this now.



bolt.

 

there's a couple rubber bushings that the alternator hinges on, they get old, hard, and loose, then the alternator isn't square to the drive belt

 

replaced 1 bushing, i got a bracket from Volvo wholesale that small, you saying it needs a bushing and the metal spacer?

 

somehow i don't think the alternator is supposed to ride on that bolt. i believe the procedure is to use the bolt to tension
the alternator then lock it down then back off the bolt a few turns..
mine hasn't had a tensioner bolt ever since i owned the car ..i use a crowbar against the engine block to tension the
alternator then tighten the locking bolt.

 

The tensioner bolt is breaking because the clamping bolt (the 13mm socket sized bolt into the front of the alternator) is not tight. I'm guessing you only have 1 alternator belt because the ac compressor is bad and someone ran a belt from the crankshaft to the power steering pump using one of the spaces for the other alternator belt. That's a common solution when the compressor is bad. Unfortunately the alternator came with two belts on it. Because the belts only go a short distance around the alternator pulley, two were needed/used to prevent slippage. So - the one belt left has to be extra tight to avoid that squeal when accelerating. A new belt might slip a little less, but you will be fighting the squeal as long as you have the car, unless you replace the ac clutch or compressor.