I was changing the transmission filter and the @&%$# dipstick bracket bolt broke. Anyone know what size bolt that is so I can replace it after I drill out the broken bit (which it seems like I will have to do via the passenger wheel well with a bit extension).

First real post - happy to be a member!

Have you checked to see if the bolt for the oil dipstick is the same size? I took them off once and I think they were. If so, take it to Ace or Lowes and use their bolt sizing board to figure out the size and pitch.

That dipstick tube is the worst. The top half of mine broke off in the bottom half, so now I need to find a way to get it out, or replace the entire oil pan (that's the only way to replace the bottom half) -_-

That's my plan if I can get enough bolt out. I have about 1/8" of the top half of the broken bolt that would work for a guesstimate (not enough to use the thread checker tool, but probably enough to find the size. I thought someone might know.

As for the, oil dipstick, I don't plan on removing that bolt. Wouldn't want to create the same problem....

That's why I disconnected the tube bracket and pulled the whole tube vs just trying to removing the bottom half. I'm sure the upper and lower tubes are rusted together too....

The bolt was M8 x 1.25.

I have a 3rd generation 4Runner (1998). Last time I changed the transmission fluid (I've done it 3 times since I've owed it) I found the dipstick/fill tube bracket bolt bent and I replaced it with one that was just slightly longer than the original bolt. It bottomed out against the bottom of the hole but the transmission dipstick tube could still vibrate and wasn't tight against the side of the engine block. I didn't think it would be a big deal.

About 2 or 3 days later noticed a bad transmission leak. Turns out all the bolts on the transmission pan were loose. I'm talking you could turn them all with your finger. So of course the leak was from the seal of the pan against the bottom of the transmission. I got another bolt that was the correct length and this time it tightened the dipstick/fill tube bracket down against the engine block. I even re-used the rubber seal for the pan that I had installed just a few days before.

I'm convinced the longer bolt allowed the bracket to vibrate and that in turn transmitted that vibration down to the pan and loosened all the pan bolts. I asked a friend his view of this idea and he thought it wasn't possible, but since I've installed the correct length bolt, the seal has been fine and hasn't leaked at all.

So make sure you get the correct length and it's tight.