Having a crisis...hope someone can help

I'm simply changing the tranny fluid tonight before a big family road trip tomorrow.
After the typical oily mess on the garage floor....I finally got the pan off.

Only to my surprise I found an extra part in the bottom of the pan...

HELP!


Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - ejg's Album: Extra parts - Picture


Is something broken? If not...where does it go?

Huge thanks in advance.

PS. 2004 4x4 expedition 5.4L. Running perfect (till now?)

 

Embarrassing..

Found my answer...go to 6:20 in this video:
F150 Installing Transmission Drain Part 2 of 3 - YouTube


Left over parts from manufacturing.


My apologies to the group for a "newb" post. Hope somebody learns from my "learning".

 

You should worry more about why in 8 years the pan has never been down. That would imply at the very least the filter has never been changed.

 

Perhaps it's an infrequent driven vehicle and the mileage hasn't yet warranted a fluid/filter change.

 

True statement. Thanks to motorcycles and living only 10 miles from work, my '06 just turned 50K and I did the trans flush and filter a few weeks ago and the fluid was still nice and red and I had to remove the plug. I will flush it again around 85K.......in 2016

 

Maybe true, but your tranny was due at 30 k. At least your plan for '16 is close to schedule.

 

Must be the case. Over and out.