What do you do when you stripped a bolt? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

schumionbike · 08-07-2010, 05:22 PM

I stripped the allen drain bolt to the ATF pan when I was trying to remove it. It didn't budge but I stripped the damn thing. I should've pay attention more to the thing and push down harder with my other hand but too late now. So how do I go about taking the thing off? thanks.

73sport · 08-07-2010, 05:45 PM

1) Go get a new one and new wrench.
2) Find a star 6-point American bit (7/16"??) and pound it in. Sometimes grinding the tip concave will turn it into a slight cutter and it'll cut the corners on the way in until its seated. Try again.
3) Try an 11mm hex, slightly ground down. Same thing concave tip. Pound it in.
4) Use a very sharp cold chisel cutting into the perimeter and spin it out. This works! Just don;t dork up the oil pan!
5) Weld a nut to it
6) Remove the oil pan (see step 1 and 5)

7) Be thankkful its just the oil pan and not the differential drain plug/fill plug.

Hope this helps. . .
/73

schumionbike · 08-07-2010, 06:56 PM

thanks, this is gonna suck! ahhhhhhhh

ycartf · 08-07-2010, 07:17 PM

Use these (left-handed drill bits). Start with the smaller sizes to make a hole (with the drill in reverse) and when you get to the one big enough, it will grip the bolt and spin it out. Don't get a cheapo set though, as these are a great investment and worth their weight in gold every time I have had to use them.

Tracy

SilverSoarer · 08-07-2010, 09:35 PM

Worst case scenario you have to replace the transmission pan.

But the drain bolt should be able to be drilled out.

Mike Gerber · 08-08-2010, 08:25 AM

I know this is a thin round-headed bolt, but have you tried getting a vice-grip to lock on to the outside of that bolt and turn it off that way? Might be worth a try.

Mike

Chris Crash · 08-08-2010, 12:22 PM

I would also try vice-grips before resorting to drilling.

schumionbike · 08-08-2010, 01:13 PM

I'm waiting for toyota dealership to open up tommorow so I can go get a new bolt, hopefully they're readily available before I can try getting this off. I hoping that I can get it off without drilling it. Thanks guys!

73sport · 08-08-2010, 02:10 PM

Drilling would be my last option. Try the chisel/hammer. I bet you get it as the shock will take it loose. Bigger hammer is better and you be striking the outside perimeter to put a huge gouge in it.

jordan7831 · 08-08-2010, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ycartf

Use these (left-handed drill bits). Start with the smaller sizes to make a hole (with the drill in reverse) and when you get to the one big enough, it will grip the bolt and spin it out. Don't get a cheapo set though, as these are a great investment and worth their weight in gold every time I have had to use them.

Tracy

I like this idea a lot! I will have to try this myself

schumionbike · 08-08-2010, 05:35 PM

well, some good news today. I change ATF on my mom 021 Toyota Corrolla and that went smoothly. They use exactly the same hex bolt. I'm still puzzle as to what happen yesterday, probably didn't push down on the the bolt enough.

73sport · 08-09-2010, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schumionbike

. . . . I'm still puzzle as to what happen yesterday, probably didn't push down on the the bolt enough.

Plugs N such get packed full of dirt and debris if peps bottom the pan out soft materials. THus cleaning the hole with a pick is a good idea.

FWIW: its very likely that drilling that bolt would be of NO HELP as its not the bolt thats stuck in the threads, its the flange that's locked to the pan. So until you drill into that bolt and separate the sealing surface to the sealing flange, its stuck. Hint, a drill of that size is going to be equal to the threads themselves and you could punch the threads right out of the pan.

There's a time an a place for drilling, taping, reverse bits ect. This isn't one of them unless the threads are trashed and we don't know the whole picture.

schumionbike · 08-11-2010, 01:29 PM

well, just to give everyone an update, I tried to have a go at it again but long story short, I couldn't get it out. I did not try drilling or chiseling the thing though. So I did the next best thing and took the car to Midas to get a change and refilled done for 40 bucks. They got the thing out and install the new bolt I gave them. So yeah, it was a V6 Camry too so I guess it was a pretty good price to pay considered what they had to deal with. They did underfilled my transmission fluid by about half a quart or so but no big deal.

The other good news is I have changed the other Camry ATF along with a Corrola ATF and that same bolt did not give me any trouble whatsoever. At least now I know that's there is always Midas!!!!!