I just finished replacing my alternator on a 2004 coupe. Wrestling the old alternator out was quite a struggle due to the brass sleeves in the upper and lower mounting holes in the alternator bracket. It seems that when the alternator is installed, these brass sleeves are pressed into the alternator brackets when the mounting bolts are tightened. This takes up any slack in the area between the front inside and rear inside surfaces of the mounting bracket. It's also the very reason that our alternators are so difficult to remove. Buy a 5/16" carriage bolt x 2-1/2" long, a matching hex nut, and a 5/16" fender washer at your local big box hardware store. Slide the carriage bolt from the inside of the upper / lower alternator mount through the brass sleeve with the bare threads facing the front of the vehicle. Slide a 3/8" socket large enough to pass over the brass sleeve which is protruding towards the front of the vehicle. Slide on the fender washer and thread the hex nut onto the end of the the carriage bolt. Tighten the hex nut with an open end wrench until the brass sleeve has been pressed out of the mounting bracket and is flush with the inside mounting bracket surface. Disassemble the tool, and repeat for the other brass sleeve. Even though you only pressed out the brass sleeves approximately 1/4", that 1/4" of wiggle room that you gained will make installing the replacement alternator into the bracket 10000% easier.

 

Good idea, I have added it to the 'Index of Crossfire Repairs'.