As you pull the box from the ceiling carefully remove the wires from the box.
Remove old ceiling light box.
Take out the screws or remove the nuts from the top of the old ceiling box if it is attached to a hanger bar suspended between the joists.
I ve done that myself and it helps a great deal when you have a box stuffed with wires.
As an alternative to removing the ceiling box you can cover it with a decorative plate and install the recessed light.
Push the wires aside and insert a hacksaw through the hole in the ceiling.
If you re determined to remove it i would cut the drywall back and see if you can detach it from below.
Rotating the bolts unhooks the anchors behind the box from the drywall.
Remove a remodeling box by turning the anchor bolts on the front of the box using a screwdriver.
There s a few steps joe goes through when getting.
Video of the day.
Unfasten the screws if the box is held to the ceiling joist with screws.
Lower the existing fixture off the wall or ceiling by taking out the mounting screws holding it to the electrical box exposing the wiring behind it.
Remove the box from the ceiling.
As you pull the box from the ceiling carefully remove the wires from the box.
Take out the screws or remove the nuts from the top of the old ceiling box if it is attached to a hanger bar suspended between the joists.
Remove the box and pull the bars from the ceiling joists.
Push the wires aside and insert a hacksaw through the hole in the ceiling.
Number 10 x 1 5 sheet metal screws were used to secured the pancake box to the ceiling joist.
The finished replacement of an old style pancake ceiling electrical box ready for a standard light fixture the box above is ready for a standard light fixture installation.
Remove stubborn nail on ceiling boxes by breaking the box into pieces with a hammer then removing the nails.
As noted elsewhere your best bet is to put a box nearby to lower the number of wires then run only the needed wires into the box.
Step 1 turn off the power to the fixture at the fuse box.