How do you drop the transmission pan

rtbrick · July 14, 2003

The first thing anyone should do when trying to change the transmissino fluid is to try and get those friggin' torx head bolts loose. Greek, I also could not get mine loose. Nor could I get the drain plug out (I was even prepared with a new one!). I ended up dropping my y-pipe enough to dump the pan. I have never, ever been so irritated with any other procedure on my truck. What were the GM engineers thinking when they designed that system??!! That drain plug is barely big enough to get a socket head on it, let alone grip it enough to turn (I'm sure GM used a heavy duty thread sealer). You have to be a contorsionist to get to the torx head bolts.

Ok, enough whining....

100R1 · July 14, 2003

This past weekend I crawled under the Yukon to see how hard it was going to be to drop the Tranny pan.

I used a T-40 torx on a 3/8" drive ratchet and the 2 bolts holding the shift cable bracket were no sweat to loosen, removed the back bolt and swing the bracket back out of the way.

all of the bolts on the oil pan are clear and easy access.

This is will be no problem to change the filter & fluid. Actually its a piece of cake compared to my Jeep Cherokee & Grand cherokee.

chris_kucia · August 2, 2004

I attempted to do a filter change this weekend. What a PITA.

I completely rounded off the drain plug bolt. I don't think its ever been moved, and now it isn't going anywhere. Took a bath in trans fluid trying to drop the pan, only to find I couldn't get the pan off due to the &$(#) shift bracket.

The previous owner must have taken the truck off roading, because there's a bit of mud in corners of the truck, including in the torx sockets up top. I'm reluctant to try and losen the bracket bolts because I can only get one hand up there and if the torx bit isn't completely centered, I'm afraid I'll strip out the inside.

I ended up tilting the pan enough to get the filter on and slosh out most of the fluid, but I had no other choice other than bolting all back up again. Of course, now the pan gasket leaks and some of that mud no doubt made its way into the pan when I was wrestling with it.

My only other alternative is to remove the trans Y-pipe, but frankly, I don't want to snap off an exhaust stud. I hope some GM engineer's ears were ringing over the weekend, 'cause I had some real pointed words for him/her yesterday.

BTW, I have the factory service manual. Doesn't mention anything about the interference, just says to remove the pan bolts and drop the pan. Sounds real easy!

I'm no engineer, but it seems like a torx screw is a bad idea pointed up to collect debris and in an area where it has to be removed blind in order to accomplish a standard maintenance procedure. A regular bolt should have been used on that bracket.

OTOH, the recessed pan drain bolt would have been a perfect place to use a large torx. Instead they used a shallow hex made of soft metal. I don't get it.

Greek · August 2, 2004

I feel your pain...I am getting BG flushes every so often at my local garage and following up with a drop the pan and filter change at the dealer. Still trying to figure out how the dealer is dropping the pan. They must be dropping the cross pipe...

Valsport · August 2, 2004

When I drop the pan on my 4L60E I just use a c clamp and clamp the shift bracket up against the front drive shaft. This gets it out of the way and its simple to drop the pan without messing with exhaust pipes. use a large screwdiver to carefully bend the shift bracket back into place after you put the pan back on. I stripped my drain plug too, thing wouldn't budge.

chris_kucia · August 2, 2004

Thanks Valsport.

I think I'll give that a try tonight.

commanche1 · August 4, 2004

i installed a drain plug in my pan. it was 5 dollars at any auto store. i crawl under and 5 quarts of fluid are drained out in about a minute or so.its that easy. i do it each year,in goes5 or 6 new quarts. i change the filter about every 35,000.believe me they are not that dirty if any. very little in them.when i do this i drop in 5 quarts, drive for 3 days to mix and then drain again, drop in 5 more new quarts. then every year drain and add 5 new.its quick.this has worked for me and i have gone 150,000 and never had a transmission go.also cooler is a must. take care

jjh5665 · May 7, 2008

Is the tranny HOT when you guys are trying to remove the bolt?? Seems like that would make it easier? I am getting close to doing something on my Silverado, since everyone is having trouble dropping the pan, I thought about just removing the drain plug and changing the fluid every 25,000 miles and tackling or getting the dealer to change the filter every other time which would be every 50,000. Not sure what I am going to do yet, with so many people having probs with the drain plug too, I am not sure what to do? Wish it was a 700R4, I can drop the pan and change the filter in my dads '91 K1500 in no time at all!

dlstewart01 · May 7, 2008

Is the tranny HOT when you guys are trying to remove the bolt?? Seems like that would make it easier? I am getting close to doing something on my Silverado, since everyone is having trouble dropping the pan, I thought about just removing the drain plug and changing the fluid every 25,000 miles and tackling or getting the dealer to change the filter every other time which would be every 50,000. Not sure what I am going to do yet, with so many people having probs with the drain plug too, I am not sure what to do? Wish it was a 700R4, I can drop the pan and change the filter in my dads '91 K1500 in no time at all!

This thread was started in "2003", I'm sure the bolt has been out for some time now.

Don

absinthminded · November 29, 2011

I wish I would have found this thread before I attempted to change out my fluid and filter. I rounded off my drain plug as well. I bought a new one and tried dropping the pan. After about 2 hrs I was covered in ATF and my garage floor was a mess. Not much fun on one of my only days off with my little ones asking" are you done yet daddy?" "We miss you". I gave up, bolted the pan back in place and put fresh fluid in with an old filter. $100 later and an hour at the dealer and I have new fluid, filter and drain plug. I'm glad I wasn't the only one with this problem. Its super frustrating.