Trick to not breaking new voltage regulator?
 

My alternator hasn't been charging, so I bought a new voltage regulator.
When I was putting in the new one, I evidently did something wrong, as I broke one of the brushes in half.
The parts store was generous and swapped it out for a second, and of course I don't want to make the same mistake again, so can anyone explain how to avoid doing this?
I read the write-up on diesel giant and searched around, but haven't had any luck in the way of how not to break the brushes on install.

Secondly, if the alternator ends up being worn out, is there a better one I can install vs. the stock one?

I went with a fattywagons alternator.
No running huge wires.
Its plug and play 85amp.
It sounds like you are some how not depressing the brushes squarely as you install screws.
If you have compress air blow internals before adding brushes.

Thanks Old Sinner, I'll have to get a better look into the back of the alternator to see how the brushes seat.

I depress the carbon brushes and keep them down with a piece of dental floss. After in place just pull on one end off floss and they seat.

that sounds like a good method. I'm going to give it a shot.

Just tie a simple bow on the exterior of regulator to keep in place.

it's in. thanks again.