I changed my differential fluid and found this chunk of metal, I think its a gear tooth. My question is does this spell impending doom for my differential? I've never had problems with it before, it functions with no prob and the LSD locks up nicely. There is a faint gear whine when I leave it in gear and decelerate, but thats it. Any one here find some thing like this in their diff?

BTW I guess I should count myself lucky that this is the only issue I have, the gear oil that was in there originally seems to have broken down into some type of bad smelling watery sewage, I'm glad its outta my diff.

 

I'm not a mechanic but I would say that it is a part of a tooth, be it from the ring and pinnion or 1 of the internal gears inside the LSD carrier. If it was part of a bearing it would certainly be making a louder noise than a whining.

Theres 2 ways of looking at it. Either pull it now and get it all checked out and rebuilt or buy a spare now and get it rebuilt in anticipation of the pending doom.

If there was a chunk in there it will eventually get worse and break.

Duane

 

that whine on deceleration could also be a bearing transmission. as for that piece of metal, since there's no problems with the differencial i'd say it could be something that happened to it and was fixed when the previous owner had it and all that wasn't gotten out then. but u could still take it out and inspect it anyway. it's all up to u.

 

Check the fluid regularly for shavings and keep your ears open.
Other than that,it outta run just fine for a long time since more than one tooth is in engagement at a time.Is the tooth square/rectangular or does it have a sweeping curve to it? If its an internal diff gear I wouldnt worry so much.If its a hypoid R&P gear,its a little more serious.Does it look like the piece was munched up by the rest of the diff gears?
That is a pretty big chunk,but it also depends on where on the tooth that part came from.I certainly wouldnt tempt fate and beat on it,but if theres no clicking,popping or whining,Id just let'er slide until you are inclined to find another 3rd member and change it out.....