Engine Accessory Pulleys & Mounting Brackets

Types of Engine Accessory Mounting Brackets

Engine accessory mounting brackets are grouped by the component they carry, and you can buy most types as a single bracket or a full kit. Knowing which accessory you're mounting narrows your search fast. Here's how the main types break down:

• A/C compressor brackets position the compressor in side-mount or mid-mount locations, depending on the kit.
• Alternator brackets set alternator height and belt alignment at the front of the engine.
• Power steering brackets hold the pump, and some kits pair it with the A/C compressor.
• Idler pulley brackets add belt wrap or fill the gap when you delete an accessory.
• Fan pulley brackets, like the cast-aluminum Gates fan pulley bracket for 1995-2004 Toyota engines, support a belt-driven fan.

For OE-style repairs, Dorman Products engine cooling fan pulley brackets cover Nissan/Infiniti and Honda/Acura/Isuzu applications. When you need matching drive parts, browse the full Pulleys, Belts & Brackets category.

LS, LT and Small-Block Chevy Accessory Brackets

Many bracket kits in this category target GM V8 families, so confirm whether you have an LS, LT or small-block Chevy first. ICT Billet LS brackets include a heavy-duty A/C bracket kit and a Corvette A/C bracket for Sanden 508/709 compressors. ICT Billet also offers an LS idler pulley bracket for builds that delete the power steering pump.

For GM truck LT Gen V engines, the ICT Billet R4 A/C heavy-duty bracket kit mounts the compressor. On small-block Chevy builds, the March Performance 21002-08 A/C bracket is a black, passenger-side bracket that mounts inward for short water pumps.

The Vintage Air 151583 bracket kit mounts the compressor and Saginaw power steering pump on Chevy 305/350 engines with a long water pump. Vintage Air also offers Steel-eez side-mount and mid-mount A/C compressor brackets. If you're routing coolant on an LS or small-block Chevy, Holley LS/SBC cooling manifold hardware kits help finish the front of the engine.

How Do You Choose an Alternator, A/C or Power Steering Bracket?

Choose a bracket by checking three things: your engine family, your water pump length and your belt system. Engine family comes first, since LS, LT and small-block Chevy bolt patterns differ.

Long and short water pumps sit at different distances from the block, so a bracket built for one won't line up with the other. Confirm your pump before you order, and shop water pumps and components if you're swapping pumps too. Serpentine and V-belt systems use different pulley grooves, so match the bracket to the belt you're running.

Next, check that an A/C bracket suits your compressor model, such as a Sanden 508/709 or R4, and source fittings and hoses from A/C components. For steering, confirm your pump style, then shop power steering pumps and components. Our guide covers power steering pumps for classic muscle cars.

Should You Choose Billet-Aluminum or Steel Brackets?

Choose billet aluminum for lower weight and a machined look, or choose steel for a rigid mount if extra weight doesn't matter. Both hold accessories securely when the bracket is built for your engine.

A billet-aluminum bracket is machined from a solid block, which gives it clean edges and tight tolerances. Aluminum also resists corrosion and accepts finishes like black. Steel brackets weigh more, but they're stiff and simple to bolt up on street and truck engines.

Cast aluminum sits in between, and OE-style replacements like the Gates fan pulley bracket use it. Whatever material you pick, the bracket's job stays the same: hold the pulley in exact alignment.

If you're cutting weight up front, pair your bracket with lighter engine accessory pulleys. Before you buy for power alone, read whether lightweight pulleys really increase horsepower.

How Do Brackets Work With Pulleys, Belts and Tensioners?

Brackets set where each accessory pulley sits, and the belt and tensioner depend on that position to run straight and tight. Every pulley in the drive has to sit on the same plane as the crank pulley.

If a bracket holds a pulley slightly forward or back, the belt can walk off, chirp or wear its edges. That's why water pump length and belt system matter when you pick a bracket. Idler pulleys add wrap around pulleys with little belt contact, while a tensioner keeps steady pressure as the belt stretches.

Once your brackets are in, check alignment with a straightedge across the pulley faces before you run the engine. Then pick replacement serpentine and V-belts or a complete accessory drive belt kit that matches your layout. Our beginner's guide to installing a serpentine belt walks you through routing and tension.