Pulled the Transmission Pan Today

[YukonRog]

So I dropped the Transmission Pan on the '05 Yukon today and was shocked to find small metal shavings as well as lot of metal sludge on the magnet. This is the transmission that was a "reman" installed about 8k miles ago. Also I expected to have to tug and twist the filter to get it out but it just kinda fell out into my hands as soon as I grabbed it. Now I have just rebuilt and installed my Transfer Case and figured since I drained the Transmission I might as well do the filter and gasket before adding $45 worth of fluid.
Now I've read (on this forum) that seeing metal shavings in a pan is no shocker and they've run fine. So since I can't afford a transmission and have already sold my 1st born I was thinking about just putting it together and seeing how long it lasts. Anyone have any experience with type of thing?

 

[OR VietVet]

The metal is normal after 8k miles. Pics of the larger stuff to verify. Your new filter will have a tighter seal to shove in there. Refill and drive it like you stole it!

 

[swathdiver]

So I dropped the Transmission Pan on the '05 Yukon today and was shocked to find small metal shavings as well as lot of metal sludge on the magnet. This is the transmission that was a "reman" installed about 8k miles ago. Also I expected to have to tug and twist the filter to get it out but it just kinda fell out into my hands as soon as I grabbed it. Now I have just rebuilt and installed my Transfer Case and figured since I drained the Transmission I might as well do the filter and gasket before adding $45 worth of fluid.
Now I've read (on this forum) that seeing metal shavings in a pan is no shocker and they've run fine. So since I can't afford a transmission and have already sold my 1st born I was thinking about just putting it together and seeing how long it lasts. Anyone have any experience with type of thing?

Any idea of where the shavings came from? Can you still take a picture and post them? At the very least, I would take a sample of fluid when convenient and send it off to BlackStone Labs for analysis which can probably tell you what kind of metal that was and from that, maybe we can determine where it came from. Hopefully, it's just gears wearing in.

 

[YukonRog]

Any idea of where the shavings came from? Can you still take a picture and post them? At the very least, I would take a sample of fluid when convenient and send it off to BlackStone Labs for analysis which can probably tell you what kind of metal that was and from that, maybe we can determine where it came from. Hopefully, it's just gears wearing in.

Yeah it ain't pretty. The majority of the oil went into my bulk waste container so anything in there's already contaminated. I did collect some from the pan into a catch pan. These are the biggest chunks. That blob is my magnetic pocket pencil.

 

[OR VietVet]

Those bigger chunks are not normal, IMO. @rockola1971 hopefully will chime in and give his opinion.

 

[89Suburban]

Yeah it ain't pretty. The majority of the oil went into my bulk waste container so anything in there's already contaminated. I did collect some from the pan into a catch pan. These are the biggest chunks. That blob is my magnetic pocket pencil.View attachment 350079View attachment 350080View attachment 350078

Oh damn!

 

[swathdiver]

Yeah it ain't pretty. The majority of the oil went into my bulk waste container so anything in there's already contaminated. I did collect some from the pan into a catch pan. These are the biggest chunks. That blob is my magnetic pocket pencil.View attachment 350079View attachment 350080View attachment 350078

Yeah, there's a few guys on here intimately familiar with the internals, I'm not one of them. I'm finding it hard to speculate on where those slivers even came from.

 

[Mudsport96]

Are the circled pieces cylinder shaped like roller bearings?

 

[OR VietVet]

Those chunks may be the source of the noise that started this whole transfer case/transmission endeavor.

 

[YukonRog]

View attachment 350089

Are the circled pieces cylinder shaped like roller bearings?

No, they're not roller bearings. Just a nice shape! Mostly flat.... Wait lemme look again....

 

[YukonRog]

Those chunks may be the source of the noise that started this whole transfer case/transmission endeavor.

I'm not sure since I used a stethoscope and the loudest noise was the front of the Transfer Case. And I did find several issues in the TC. Front Output bearing being the worst, chain, noisy clutch pack, pump knocking....

 

[YukonRog]

Oh crap my bad, those ARE round! I'm exhausted and not thinking clearly.

 

[OR VietVet]

Noise can travel thru metal and deceive your ears. Not sayin' that's it but it's a maybe...

Yea, those roller bearings came out of a cage and some of those other pieces are likely from the cage itself. CRAP ON A *******!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[YukonRog]

Yep I know noise can be deceiving. I can verify that when I pulled the TC's Front Output Shaft's Seal and spun it the sound was a rumbling noise like the tumbling rock sound I heard. So, at the very least the TC needed a rebuild anyways. I'm just very disappointed the Transmission is junk also.

 

[Mudsport96]

Well, there are a few possibilities.
1. That is part of the rear planetary torrington bearing.
2. The rebuilder did a shoddy job and those parts are from before the rebuild.
3. Might be pieces of the forward sprag, but i think they are too small.

Man, i should have said drop the pan before you went this far...

Well, if it is bad, its bad. If it was me, id shoot the moon. Put the case back in, and see if it still makes noise. That's what I would do.
Hell, when the 2-4 band in my Silverado was bad i was in denial and welded a booger on the pin tip to get me some more clamp distance for a month lol

 

[YukonRog]

Well, there are a few possibilities.
1. That is part of the rear planetary torrington bearing.
2. The rebuilder did a shoddy job and those parts are from before the rebuild.
3. Might be pieces of the forward sprag, but i think they are too small.

Man, i should have said drop the pan before you went this far...

Well, if it is bad, its bad. If it was me, id shoot the moon. Put the case back in, and see if it still makes noise. That's what I would do.
Hell, when the 2-4 band in my Silverado was bad i was in denial and welded a booger on the pin tip to get me some more clamp distance for a month lol

Well, I guess in retrospect I should have pulled the pan too. But it was shifting fine and the fluid looked and smelled good on the dipstick. So I rebuilt the Transfer Case and reinstalled it assuming all was good. And since I drained the transmission fluid when I was under it figured I'd just put a new filter and gasket in it. The gasket was leaking a little anyways.
So part of me wants to put it together and just see what happens but it's a $75 loss, or gamble, since that's what the fluid and filter kit cost me.
I don't know, flip a coin? I see lots of bourbon in my near future....

 

[Mudsport96]

I don't know, flip a coin? I see lots of bourbon in my near future....

Well, if you were near me, id give you some ATF out of my stockpile for a test.
Did you save the old stuff in a jug, maybe you could reuse it?

What bourbon you having tonight?
Having some Woodford tonight, out of my fathers day present bottle

 

[YukonRog]

Well, if you were near me, id give you some ATF out of my stockpile for a test.
Did you save the old stuff in a jug, maybe you could reuse it?

What bourbon you having tonight?
Having some Woodford tonight, out of my fathers day present bottle

Nah I drained it into my bulk oil recycling bucket so it's contaminated for sure. I bought new fluid thinking it would all be good.
I can't afford to drink the good stuff the way I go through it so it's Evan Williams for me. I was weaned as a young biker on Jose Cuervo and Jack Daniels so my tolerance is different than most. LOL!

 

[Mudsport96]

Plenty of evan Williams in my day, also a fan of Bulleit

 

[OR VietVet]

Go Jim Beam!

What is the warranty on the 8k miles transmission?