Help! Broken transmission pan bolt

leafsrule531 · #1 05-18-2021, 10:44 PM

So I’m in a pretty big dilemma and wanted to get the experts opinion on this. I was replacing the Transmisson oil and filter for my x5 ... it has about 150k miles and should’ve been done way before that but the previous owner never did it.

Everything was going smooth and I was installing the new filter and torquing it to specs. My cheap torque wrench from harbor freight never clicked and I kept torquing it and broke the bolt

. My question is should I just leave it in there as is ? Will it cause a leak if I keep it in there ?

All the other bolts are already on and torqued and it’ll be a pain in the ass to remove all the bolts and the pan and then drill out the broken screw. I definitely want to just leave it in there but would like to get everyone’s thoughts.

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ard · #2 05-19-2021, 12:53 AM

Welp.

If you leave it alone and it leaks, you'll know what is causing the leak...

Can you drill it with the pan in place? Get a small extractor into it- wont be corroded in place- might be easy...

andrewwynn · #3 05-19-2021, 02:46 AM

Photo please. There are products That can help with this problem depending where the post is broken. A customer of mine broke his transmission pan by hitting a curb stop in a parking lot.

A few thoughts depending on your situation.

If there is access to top and bottom, repair kits that look like a c-clamp are a possible fix

In my clients case the threaded hole side was torn off the transmission body, but luckily the sealing surface was ok.

They drilled straight up through the transmission body and used a through bolt top to bottom on 2-3 bolts that were destroyed. Saved the transmission.

leafsrule531 · #4 05-19-2021, 05:27 PM

Here are the pics. I’m very inclined to just leaving it that way but will kick myself if it ends up leaking after that

. Should I just take off the pan and try to take the bolt out ?

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Zulu95 · #5 05-19-2021, 05:33 PM

In my experience the question would be: "How long before it leaks?"
I never get the easy side of things.

leafsrule531 · #6 05-19-2021, 05:54 PM

Do you think the seal would get worse if I unbolt all the screws and take off the pan to remove the broken bolt ?

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Zulu95 · #7 05-19-2021, 06:10 PM

You might get away with that and do I suppose you'll put one of the old bolts back in? You could also buy a cheap aftermarket filter kit with new gasket and bolts and use you existing filter without removing it. Remove the broken bolt and put the new gasket in place and replace all the bolts with the new, never torqued, bolts from the kit.
A new name brand torque wrench is also in order.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/13308937121...Cclp%3A2047675

https://www.ebay.com/itm/13335291315...Cclp%3A2334524

andrewwynn · #8 05-19-2021, 06:11 PM

It looks like clear access and not corroded to hell. I would use a left hand drill bit and removed it.

I would def not remove the pan.

Left hand drill with about 2/3 the diameter of the bolt. Then use screw extractor if it doesn't come out first

andrewwynn · #9 05-19-2021, 08:42 PM

I own the AC Delco model above and it's very nice. I keep a 1/2 > 3/8 adapter in the box.

It's not small I often have to use with extensions to get where I need.

Also, rather than set the value every time I'll leave it set higher and just watch the readout and use the peak torque.

I'm looking for a good normal torque wrench that will fit in tighter places than the big AC plus breaker bar.

crystalworks · #10 05-19-2021, 09:18 PM

Is this transmission full of oil yet? If not, I'd drop it and replace the bolt. As Andrew said a left hand bit should get that out. Should be removable through that hole with the bit. But if not... drop that pan and replace the bolts. It's ~$20 for a set.

ZERO way I would leave a broken bolt like that.

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