technical question regarding alternator and voltage regulator

[Blazin95Red325i]

Well I swapped out my working 80 amp alternator for a used 140 amp. I finally got around to removing the back cover off my old alternator and realized that the voltage regulator's bottom prong, the one toward the coils is all worn down, to less than a cm. I have ordered a new one.

MY question is:

The prong that is all worn down gets in contact with a contact that spins with the fan/pulley. This part is actually worn down a bit aswell, not too much but it is obvious with regard to the not so worn prong counterpart that it has worn down, can this part be changed aswell?

thanks

I'll try taking some pics, this may be able to help people fix their alt whine/squeek without having to get a new one.

[thejlevie]

Are you referring to one of the brushes that contact the slip ring inside of the alternator? The brushes are made of a graphite material and will wear down with time, but the won't (in general) cause any audible noise.

[Blazin95Red325i]

well, if one were to remove the voltage regulator there is a rolo sized copper piece right in the middle that the two prongs on the voltage regulator come in contact with as the alternator spins via the pulley and belts.