I have a broken toilet flange and need to replace it what is the procedure?

I think your first step should be is to buy a flange repair kit, you don't have to remove the old flange completely most of the time. http://doitbest.com/Closet+Rods_+Ends+and+Flanges-Oatey-model-43652-doitbest-sku-486000.dib

Hi Steve:

Would be nice to know if this is a cast iron closet flange or if this is a plastic flange..?

Anyway, first line of defense in these cases (cast iron or plastic) is to install a spanner flange under the broken side of the flange and then install the toilet as usual... see picture of spanner flange below. The spanner flange slips under the broken area of the flange but spans the distance so that it grabs a strong part of the old flange. This works very well overall (usually install the closet bolt into spanner flange first and then tap into place using a chisel and hammer if tight fit... ;) ).

Now, if that doesn't seem like it will work then may be that it is time to remove the old flange altogether..? If it is a cast iron flange you can actually drill the old lead ring out by using a 3/8" drill bit and drilling into lead ring that surrounds the pipe by about an inch or so... do this in a series of 5 or 6 holes and then use a screwdriver to try to PRY the lead ring up and out of the flange. Then should be able to wiggle old flange loose (after removing screws). You could then install a new TWIST AND SET FLANGE... see picture below (pvc OK in this case). This simply twists inside the pipe and then you screw it to the floor and install toilet as normal.

If this is PVC flange then you could just use a pair of aviation snips to cut out the old closet ring and install a new repair flange similar to the CLAM repair ring... click on the clam.pdf to see what I am talking about. Here, you simply remove old ring and then slip this bivalve ring around the flange and set into the groove of the flange and then screw to floor and install toilet as needed.

That's my thoughts...

Let me know what you think here... Hi Bob...was writing as you posted!!!

MARK