Notices
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

Metal bit in rear diff

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 2, 2010 | 12:37 PM
  #1  
metatype's Avatar
metatype
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Metal bit in rear diff

Hi, I've got a '94 F250 with the 460 motor and 4.10 gears. I just had the oil changed and they found a piece of metal about the size of a large grain of rice stuck to the rear differential plug. Is this normal? Should I get the fluid serviced ASAP? The truck has about 130k miles on it. I don't know when the diff fluid was last serviced since I bought it used recently...

Thanks for the help,
Anthony
 
Reply
Old Oct 2, 2010 | 01:11 PM
  #2  
jplinville's Avatar
jplinville
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,431
Likes: 1
From: Ohio
I wouldn't worry about it too much...it's somewhat normal for pieces of metal to whear off of the teeth, that's why there is a magnet in the diff cover.

I've seen larger pieces than that, and continued to use it.
 
Reply
Old Oct 5, 2010 | 08:35 AM
  #3  
metatype's Avatar
metatype
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
So I had my mechanic look at it...apparently it's at risk of catastrophic failure. Not something I want to happen while my wife is towing. Damage is about $1950. :-(

Sounds like the locker is not working and several clips are missing from the passenger side carrier.
 
Reply
Old Oct 5, 2010 | 08:45 PM
  #4  
SAF's Avatar
SAF
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by metatype
So I had my mechanic look at it...apparently it's at risk of catastrophic failure. Not something I want to happen while my wife is towing. Damage is about $1950. :-(

Sounds like the locker is not working and several clips are missing from the passenger side carrier.
Sounds like he is saying the dogs that lock the plates into the carrier are wearing/breaking...I've seen that on a few trucks. I hope that quote is for a full rebuild from end to end, thats a lot of money for the work...
 
Reply
Old Oct 6, 2010 | 08:58 AM
  #5  
93_flareside's Avatar
93_flareside
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 324
Likes: 1
From: San Tan Valley, AZ
Originally Posted by SAF
Sounds like he is saying the dogs that lock the plates into the carrier are wearing/breaking...I've seen that on a few trucks. I hope that quote is for a full rebuild from end to end, thats a lot of money for the work...
My experience, when locking rings give, the carrier wasn't installed right. The lash may have been wrong, or maybe even bearings shimmed incorrectly.

My experience came from my own inexperience, and doing myself! Cost me about $1000. But that bought me a e-locker, and a new set of 4.10s, along with evrything eles needed. Did it with some expert help the second time.
 
Reply
Old Oct 6, 2010 | 04:35 PM
  #6  
SAF's Avatar
SAF
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by 93_flareside
My experience, when locking rings give, the carrier wasn't installed right. The lash may have been wrong, or maybe even bearings shimmed incorrectly.

My experience came from my own inexperience, and doing myself! Cost me about $1000. But that bought me a e-locker, and a new set of 4.10s, along with evrything eles needed. Did it with some expert help the second time.
Could be,I dunno, Ive seen two rears opened up with this condition (both were salvage units)
 
Reply
Old Oct 9, 2010 | 12:52 PM
  #7  
metatype's Avatar
metatype
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Thanks for all the replies. I talked to the mechanic again and he said the clutch retaining clip was broken and had damaged the clutch pack and carrier housing. As part of the repair we're upgrading to a truetrac lsd. Hopefully we'll be able to pull the horse trailer on wet grass now :-)
 
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:02 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-1
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-3
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-4
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-5
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-7
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE