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I've been really good at bending the "bracket axle" on XT M8000 rear mechs which seems to happen more often than I bend hangers. I can get the spare part easily enough ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/SPRE-RDM8000-bracket-axle-normal/dp/B01L06YBDY/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=shimano+bracket+axle+m8000&qid=1558985571&s=gateway&sr=8-1) but I'm sure they'd be fine if only I could bend them back straight.
Is there a tool/technique?
I've done those as well. Doesn't seem a step forward - you now have two parts that can be out of alignment. They're not much cheaper than a mech hanger.
Am I right in thinking you can't use a hanger aligment tool because it's not threaded?
I'd wondered about making up an adapter to use a hanger alignment tool. If you just have the bracket attached to the hanger it would end up straight but knowing my tendencies I'd have a bent hanger compensating for a bent bracket and I'd keep having goes at it to get everything straight up to the point of snapping something.
Sorted this out with two hanger alignment tools.
The attachment on the Park DAG 2.2 is a threaded grub screw that you can remove. The captive bolt can then be tightened to the Park (or similar). Any cheap generic hanger alignment tool can attach to the other end. You can then orient the bracket at all points of the compass and get it aligned.
Some frames have interchangeable dropouts where you can swap the dropout for a direct mount hanger off a later/different model and remove the piece of shit tin plate from the puzzle.
All my mechs look like they have been through an industrial shredder!
Vice & mallet