Recently my SD's blower motor had been acting up. It was slow, drawing immense amounts of current, started to smell like burning circuit board and wouldn't work until you kick the passenger footwell. I took it apart and found that the brushes have a little less than half an inch left on both and I guessed that the springs that push them against the commutor are no longer supplying enough force since the brushes are almost depleted. I figured Id get some at a vacuum shop of hardware store but I cant afford to spend money on stupid brushes for my car right now. I woke up this morning and for some reason the first thought that came into my head was "ill just put a shim behind the spring". So i put 1/4 inch thick nylon washers behind the brushes and the blowers now working great with no smell or excessive current drain. Judging by how long the brushes should be, and how long they still are (about a third of an inch of brush on each one) I should make it atleast through the winter month or until I can get some new brushes.



1. Remove blower from housing.
2. Remove the single machine screw holding the black plastic part that houses the motor and pull the motor from it (with squirrel cage still attached).

3.You should be able to see the brush housings. They look like rectangular brass boxes with a spring in them and a track. Bend open the tabs on the end (make sure the spring doesn't fly out).
You do not even have to remove the brushes or springs.
4.Place small shim behind spring, and bend tabs back over.
5. reassemble and enjoy your borrowed time

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1981 300SD 512k OM603