Ok so when replacing my TV cable I pulled the trans pan down (thought I had to - didn't have to....) and one of the trans pan bolts broke (flush with the surface of the trans) on its way out.... Now I'm pretty mechanically inclined, infortunately one of the things I don't have experience in is drilling bolts out. Given that the 700r4 has an aluminum case, I don't want to screw this up.

So do I need a certain kind of drill bit? What kind of tool do I need to get the bolt out? I've heard of using an extractor but I'm having a hard time picturing in my head how its going to work... Do I just drill a hole right through the center of the bolt then take the extractor and start cranking it to the left? I'm probably just being paranoid but if some has some experience doing this and would like to share I'd appreciate it.

 

Yes thats how the extractor works. It's just very important to be very careful drilling through. Dont push too hard, and keep the drill bit absolutely straight. You dont want to break a drill bit inside the bolt. Happened to me once, I thought I got it all out, but a remaining piece then deflected the next bit into the edge and drilled the hole off center, kinda ruined my intake.

 

Depending on the location you can go one bolt size larger if need be.
Easier that way, you just drill and tap for that larger size, which while doing so, destroys n removes all the froze up stuff.

Will just annoy the next guy when one bolt is different from the rest

 

Is there any of the bolt sticking out? If so, you can weld a Nut onto it and simply take it off with a wrench.

 

Depending on the location of the bolt some bolts holes go all the way through the case if
this is the situation I would get a variable speed drill 1/16 to a 1/8 bit and drill the center of the broken bolt,most times the speed and pressure from the drill actually spins the screw through the other side. Be easy on it so you don't booger the threads or you will need to tap.

 

since the case is aluminum, the bolt is steel, what happens is the 2 metals react and sieze together, it may never come out with a screw extractor.

best bet would be to get a left hand drill bit, and drill it out with that. Sometimes, the left hand bit will take the bolt out while your drilling, other times no. If it doesnt come out, try the screw extractor, but be careful not ro break the extractor off, that will be much harder to get out later.

if that doestn work, just keep using a slightly larger bit and drill the entire bolt out, then re-tap the hole the next larger size if you cant save the original threads.

 

Thanks for the responses guys. Yea, I talked to some other guys they also recommended a left handed drill bit for this particular application. Thanks

 

Thanks for the responses, I'll probably try a left handed bit first. Thanks again!