stuck Transmission Torque Mount bolt

[1337]

My transmission torque mount (TTM) is cracked and dry rotted, so it's time to replace it. (Also, my engine flops around a bit on the 1-2 shift, so yeah...)

I've been able to loosen 3 of the 4 bolts that hold the TTM in place. But, there is one really stubborn 14mm bolt:

Low clearance around TTM bolt

I've tried:
- Jacking up the car to the maximum height of my jack stands (for all of the following).
- A wrench (10" long). Not enough leverage.
- The wrench plus a 2' length of pipe -- too precarious, the wrench just falls off. And, the pipe doesn't fit on the wrench snugly, so I don't have very many degrees of rotation before I'm up against the car or the floor.
- A socket using a 1/4" ratchet. It feels like I'm going to break the ratchet under this heavy load.
- A 3/8" ratchet doesn't fit under bolt "(2)" in the picture above
- A 3/8" ratchet with a wobble extension -- the wobble ends up being pretty much sideways.
- My 1/2" breaker bar definitely doesn't fit.

The bolt is still firmly in there.

So... what tool should I try next?

[Sommerfeldt]

How about removing that aft-most bolt, then use the closed end of a combination wrench of correct size - put a long socket on the other end of the combination wrench and a breaker bar on that. Whole thing angled as much to the rear as possible, and then break it free. I'm not sure I'm explaining this very well - do you see what I mean?

- S

[Herb Goltz]

I'd put the wrench back on it and hit the wrench with a mallet or hammer. Keep your thumb over the head of the bolt to keep the wrench from falling off.

[Sommerfeldt]

Or something like this:

P1040017-M.jpg (73.82 KiB) Viewed 2636 times

- S

[Clemens]

1/4 Inch isn´t the right tool. Try a 3/8 socket (a short one, not a deep socket) and a good ratchet (I like Snap-On, but Craftsman should do as well).

If you can´t break it open from below (I had that on my motor oil drain plug) go to an indie shop of a jiffy lube or something, put the car up on a lift and have them break it loose for you from underneath (or do it yourself, whatever works).
Also, when I was younger I´d always ask my bro or my neightbour to do something like that for me. They just had more punch in their arms than I did.

Sommerfeldt´s idea is good but might still need to much space from underneath.

[cuhfs]

Sommerfeldt wrote "How about removing that aft-most bolt, then use ..."

Unless you are sure what the other bolt is for... i would NOT remove it. Hate to see a transmission band let go... Perhaps others know what that aft bolt is for.

[scot850]

Haven't had a FWD 850/P80 for a long time. My AWD 2000 'R' that pipe you show as a brake pipe in my car is a power steering line. There is a mount at the front on the bracket that can be undone and allowed me to push it closer to the transmission to give more room. I also have an extendable 3/8" ratchet wrench and I needed that with a 2" wobble drive and short 3/8" x 14mm socket to get access.

Have you tried to shock it loose? If you can get some access this a punch onto the head of the bolt, give it a few sharp cracks with a large hammer and then try again.

Neil.

[MadeInJapan]

No one's mentioned lubricant. PB Plaster- let it sit for a bit...then, I like the idea of a good smack with a hammer! That has never failed for me.

[tryingbe]

Use a 6 point wrench then use a hammer on it. Do NOT use open end wrench.

[Sommerfeldt]

Sommerfeldt wrote "How about removing that aft-most bolt, then use ..."

Unless you are sure what the other bolt is for... i would NOT remove it. Hate to see a transmission band let go... Perhaps others know what that aft bolt is for.

The rear bolt on the torque mount. There are 3 in a row there, as you can see in the picture. The stubborn one is the one in the middle, while the one next to it (which I'm talking about) will create some difficulty in using the closed end of a combination wrench.

- S