2002 1500 ATF and filter change problem. Stupid Engineering! - Last night me and a few buddies dropped my transmission pan, drained it, and changed the filter. We ran into ...

Last night me and a few buddies dropped my transmission pan, drained it, and changed the filter. We ran into one huge problem that I was not prepared for. If you have a 4X4 (like me) this job will be much harder. The pan doesn't want to come out because of the shift cable bracket. This bracket is attached by two torx bolts on top of the transmission and are next to impossible to remove if you have a 4x4 because of your front drive shaft. 2x4 do not have this problem (stupid engineers). So at this point you have 4 options:
1. magically remove the torx bolts (good luck)
2.Remove exhaust
3.Remove the front drive shaft
4. Bend the bracket
I went with option 4 it is the easiest. Attached a ratchet strap to the bracket and bent it out of the way to get the pan out. The bracket will bend right back after to release the tension. So my advise to you if make sure the bracket is out of your way before you drop the pan then your job will go much smoother. I hope this little bit of information helps you and saves you a headache. I learned the hard way :/. Good luck!

I usually do like you did and just bend it out of the way. It really doesnt have to be bent that far.

These two bolts

Yes those two. Im surprised you could even get that good of a picture actually.

Got in there from the rear... and I got long arms! You know what they say about long arms


Long sleeves!

Machster69 wrote:Got in there from the rear...

Why does that not suprise me.......... lol

Ha, imagine that! Idk how i didnt catch it...