Stripped Differential bolt

[franan]

How to remove a Stripped Differential bolt. So today I went to change my differential fluid in my new 1989 325is and when I got under the car guess what I found..................the idiot that owned the car before me apparently tried to change the fluid but STRIPPED both the fill bolt and drain plug. Is there anyway to get these damn things out thank you?

[ForcedFirebird]

Small pipe (monkey) wrench does the trick.

[jeffnhiscars]

I think its more likely the cover is stripped and not the bolts. Either way i think its easier to resolve with the cover off

[ForcedFirebird]

I think its more likely the cover is stripped and not the bolts. Either way i think its easier to resolve with the cover off

He said it's the plugs. They have a "nail head" shape and a pipe wrench will grab them. And based on the fact that the PO stripped them, they are probably over torqued to boot. Might be wiser to leave it in the car for leverage.

[e30davie]

Depends if you have a large enough vice to put it in on the bench i suppose.

Id they are indeed that badly stripped, step 1 is buy new plugs so when you eventually do get it out you can put new ones in:D

[Echo30V]

So, Are the torx heads stripped out so when you put the torx socket into plug it just spins or did the idiot over tighten them into the rear diff cover and the whole plug is spinning?

If it’s the former you can try two things and one will work. If you can get in there with a chisel and hammer, hammer a nice dent into the side of the plug, then angle the chisel towards the left and hit the bolt in the dent so it spins left. OR take a Dremel and grind an x into the plug head then try a large screw driver.

[jeffnhiscars]

Why not just replace the cover

[Echo30V]

I think they are going for $150 to $200?

[ForcedFirebird]

I think they are going for $150 to $200?

No. I have pile of them if you want to go that route, maybe $150 powder coated, new gasket and plugs lol.

Yes, have spare plugs on hand before going further at the least in case you ruin them.

[jeffnhiscars]

Notmto undercut my friend John but I've got one here (not powder coated) somewhere that I'd sell for $40 plus shipping.

[franan]

Echo30v It just spins the idiot over tighten them Yes.

[ForcedFirebird]

Notmto undercut my friend John but I've got one here (not powder coated) somewhere that I'd sell for $40 plus shipping.

Why you...J/K. Yes, $40 is more like it.

[Echo30V]

Then I would agree and just buy a replacement cover from jeffnhiscars for $40. I would think that you will damage the cover to the point of no return if you tried to remove the bolt. I quess you could try to drill it out and carefully retap it but you will probably ruin the cover.

[zaq123]

Then I would agree and just buy a replacement cover from jeffnhiscars for $40. I would think that you will damage the cover to the point of no return if you tried to remove the bolt. I quess you could try to drill it out and carefully retap it but you will probably ruin the cover.

+1. $40 for the cover? you got off easy if you go that option. Freaking plug is $7 ea

[jeffnhiscars]

I didn't say it had plugs :)