never seen this happen to a starter

[3100 MPFI]

I finally got around to replacing the starter in my STE. I think I will let the pics do all of the talking.

[86euro]

I've seen one do that before, but that was after I got mad at it and threw it down on the concrete, lol.

[3100 MPFI]

Anger did not do this one. Unless the starter was angry and decided to commit suicide.

[sharkey]

if the starter did that to itself it was likley an Emo starter and very depressed. cutting itself didnt get your attention so it had to break a peice of itself off.

i have seen that when the starter gets worn out. if the bearings start to wear it put a lot of load on the housing and if the motor kicks back a bit, it can break it.

if you didnt have a pic of the new starter beside it i would have sugested a 2000+ 3400 starter. a bit more money but a bunch more cranking power and lighter

[3100 MPFI]

I wanted to do the newer starter, but I have had this one in storage forever and a day, so I figured I might as well use it. Besides, the small starter is going into the gold car once the OBD2 swap is finished.

[Rhedalert]

that sucks!

[X11_STE]

I actually expierenced something VERY similiar to this on my X-11. My starter died as a result of the throw out bearing letting loose and cuasing the clutch to shatter!! Result: a starter in 5 pieces!

[KlingonFiero]

I know that the odds of the same thing happening again is real slim, but I had the same starter explosion happen to me, twice within a month...

It turns out I had the wrong shims and the starter was actually catching on the ring gear.

Check your shims, just to be sure

[3100 MPFI]

there were no shims in there, but it sounded fine. As it is now, I don't have shims, but I can tell it needs them. I have some in my moms storage building, but she paid the bill LATE, so they put a lock on it, and I cant get into there until monday.

That just killed all my plans for the weekend. All of my parts, and some of my tools are in there.

[KlingonFiero]

That sucks..

Do you know how to check for the right clearance?

The shims come in a set of different thickness'.

Good Luck on Monday.

[3100 MPFI]

yeah, I know the drill. Storage is locked up right now, so I cant get in there to get my shims. I just might check to see if I have one of the small starters. Those don't need shims.