what are these? got me baffled...

jlw927 · 05-10-2009, 07:15 PM

Today i had to replace a rear differential cover on my 95 e.b. While checking in the pool of oil at the bottom of housing i found these 2 peices of metal. They are both stamped with "025" and thinking they might be .025 shims they actually measure .045". About a yr and half ago i had the cover off to replace the axles seals and i don't remember seeing these swimming around the oil. I can drive the explorer but caution when traveling at high speeds. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

jlsparky7 · 05-10-2009, 07:46 PM

Weird, they dont look like shims but maybe they were at one time.

05-11-2009, 12:58 PM

those are valuable minted copper coins from the 1800's... must have been 25¢

410Fortune · 05-11-2009, 01:29 PM

dang man looks like your 8.8 is on its way out?
How many miles?
Any problems other then a leak?

Are you the only owner of this thing? any gears or anything ever installed in there?

jlw927 · 05-11-2009, 01:38 PM

im a 2nd owner with 200,000+ miles... the only thing that was done was the axle seals about 1 and 1/2 yrs ago and just recently the cover rotted thru in which lead me to this.....

410Fortune · 05-11-2009, 01:40 PM

well metal pieces do not just show up in a rear diff, my guess is they are part of your stock carrier and the stock carrier is TOAST or almost TOAST

Any slop in the pinion yoke?
How about at the wheels? can you pull the axle shafts in and out?

jlw927 · 05-11-2009, 02:00 PM

everything seems fine. yokes ok and the axles move in ond out approx 1/8 in. according to dealer several yrs ago that was normal.

410Fortune · 05-11-2009, 02:05 PM

They had to come from somwhere = worried

**IZwack** · 05-11-2009, 02:55 PM

I saw your pictures last night and I still can't figure out what its from. Shims arent usually stamped with numbers (stamping would alter their thickness).

**Maniak** · 05-11-2009, 03:07 PM

Are they magnetic? I've heard of people "tossing in" a couple mangnets in the bottom of the diff to catch/hold metal filings..

~Mark

jlw927 · 05-11-2009, 03:53 PM

they are plain steal, not magnets. i am going to the local ford dealer and see what they say. i also have co. by me that specializes in repairing axles

410Fortune · 05-11-2009, 03:56 PM

I hope you have a good parts guy or service tech at the dealership, they are going to look at you like you are nuts

robertoa1a · 05-11-2009, 06:00 PM

Could they be used for ballancing? How much do they weigh?

**IZwack** · 05-11-2009, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robertoa1a

Could they be used for ballancing? How much do they weigh?

I've opened up a few axles and haven't really seen any balancing weights in them

robertoa1a · 05-11-2009, 06:23 PM

I don't know! It's kind of a mystry. Someone from the factory lost thier dogtags?

jlw927 · 05-12-2009, 04:32 PM

i spoke to my local mechanic and he seems to think they are the ears from the friction plates that broke off.....

**IZwack** · 05-17-2009, 09:40 AM

Mmm the plot thickens:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...23#post2200823

*Nick26* · 05-17-2009, 11:19 AM

hahaha, that's funny, the threads are so close together too... forgive me for not posting in this thread, "random metal coin like things in diff" is not exactly an easy thing to search for. I just looked more closely at mine and noticed a couple numbers too. It looks like 03 something on one of them and 01 something on the other. I have put nearly 80K this axle on it since find them the first time and it always worked fine, so i don't know if they really affect anything. Although I would think they are there for some reason. There is a little channel in the bottom of the diff housing that holds a little bit of fluid flush with the bottom of the housing, i bet if more people stuck there fingers in there and felt around they'd find them too.

410Fortune · 05-18-2009, 12:02 PM

so friggin weird, none of my 8.8's have these things.. I dont think metal parts floating around in your differential are factory pieces that are supossed to be there LOL

*Nick26* · 05-18-2009, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 410Fortune

so friggin weird, none of my 8.8's have these things.. I dont think metal parts floating around in your differential are factory pieces that are supossed to be there LOL

I don't think they have been in there since it was manufactured because I cleaned it out like 50K miles ago and found 1 then too, and now 2 more showed up.

05-10-2009, 07:15 PM	#1
jlw927 Wannabe Elite Explorer ny 95 eddie bauer Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 18 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	what are these? got me baffled... Today i had to replace a rear differential cover on my 95 e.b. While checking in the pool of oil at the bottom of housing i found these 2 peices of metal. They are both stamped with "025" and thinking they might be .025 shims they actually measure .045". About a yr and half ago i had the cover off to replace the axles seals and i don't remember seeing these swimming around the oil. I can drive the explorer but caution when traveling at high speeds. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

05-10-2009, 07:46 PM	#2
jlsparky7 Wannabe Elite Explorer Woodhaven, Mi 1996 5.0 XLT AWD Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 1,517 Vehicle Specs	Weird, they dont look like shims but maybe they were at one time. __________________ Explorer how to videos Brakes, Intake, Seafoam, Coolant Flush, Oil change, Differential Flush, Inertia Switch, Thermostat, Transfer Case Flush, Throttle Mod, and more! http://www.youtube.com/user/jlsparky7 If you like/use my vids you can thank me by subscribing to my youtube page! Thanks!

05-11-2009, 01:29 PM	#4
410Fortune ELITE BRONCO2ERER Crawlorado B2 Mod Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 22,099 Vehicle Specs	dang man looks like your 8.8 is on its way out? How many miles? Any problems other then a leak? Are you the only owner of this thing? any gears or anything ever installed in there? __________________ 96 Explorer daily driver build-1996 XLT 5.0L AWD to 4x4 conversion complete on 33's 88 BII 5.0L conversion - BII 5.0l drivetrain thread My Bronco II - 1988 Bronco II 4x4 V8 on 35's - registry and updates Wifes 07 FJ build - 2007 FJ cruiser locked and lifted

05-11-2009, 01:40 PM	#6
410Fortune ELITE BRONCO2ERER Crawlorado B2 Mod Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 22,099 Vehicle Specs	well metal pieces do not just show up in a rear diff, my guess is they are part of your stock carrier and the stock carrier is TOAST or almost TOAST Any slop in the pinion yoke? How about at the wheels? can you pull the axle shafts in and out? __________________ 96 Explorer daily driver build-1996 XLT 5.0L AWD to 4x4 conversion complete on 33's 88 BII 5.0L conversion - BII 5.0l drivetrain thread My Bronco II - 1988 Bronco II 4x4 V8 on 35's - registry and updates Wifes 07 FJ build - 2007 FJ cruiser locked and lifted

05-11-2009, 02:05 PM	#8
410Fortune ELITE BRONCO2ERER Crawlorado B2 Mod Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 22,099 Vehicle Specs	They had to come from somwhere = worried __________________ 96 Explorer daily driver build-1996 XLT 5.0L AWD to 4x4 conversion complete on 33's 88 BII 5.0L conversion - BII 5.0l drivetrain thread My Bronco II - 1988 Bronco II 4x4 V8 on 35's - registry and updates Wifes 07 FJ build - 2007 FJ cruiser locked and lifted

05-11-2009, 12:58 PM	#3
ThePhoenix Unregistered Posts: n/a Vehicle Specs	those are valuable minted copper coins from the 1800's... must have been 25¢

05-11-2009, 01:38 PM	#5
jlw927 Wannabe Elite Explorer ny 95 eddie bauer Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 18 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	im a 2nd owner with 200,000+ miles... the only thing that was done was the axle seals about 1 and 1/2 yrs ago and just recently the cover rotted thru in which lead me to this.....

05-11-2009, 02:00 PM	#7
jlw927 Wannabe Elite Explorer ny 95 eddie bauer Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 18 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	everything seems fine. yokes ok and the axles move in ond out approx 1/8 in. according to dealer several yrs ago that was normal.

05-11-2009, 02:55 PM	#9
IZwack Germantown, MD Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 22,390 Vehicle Specs	I saw your pictures last night and I still can't figure out what its from. Shims arent usually stamped with numbers (stamping would alter their thickness). __________________ »»»»»...how'd the moon get there, how'd the moon get there?

05-11-2009, 03:07 PM	#10
Maniak Moderator-Stock 91-94 Vail, Arizona 1992 XLT 4x4 Join Date: Feb 1999 Posts: 10,711 Vehicle Specs	Are they magnetic? I've heard of people "tossing in" a couple mangnets in the bottom of the diff to catch/hold metal filings.. ~Mark __________________ Click HERE to see our Explorer Specs

05-11-2009, 03:53 PM	#11
jlw927 Wannabe Elite Explorer ny 95 eddie bauer Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 18 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	they are plain steal, not magnets. i am going to the local ford dealer and see what they say. i also have co. by me that specializes in repairing axles

05-11-2009, 03:56 PM	#12
410Fortune ELITE BRONCO2ERER Crawlorado B2 Mod Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 22,099 Vehicle Specs	I hope you have a good parts guy or service tech at the dealership, they are going to look at you like you are nuts __________________ 96 Explorer daily driver build-1996 XLT 5.0L AWD to 4x4 conversion complete on 33's 88 BII 5.0L conversion - BII 5.0l drivetrain thread My Bronco II - 1988 Bronco II 4x4 V8 on 35's - registry and updates Wifes 07 FJ build - 2007 FJ cruiser locked and lifted

05-11-2009, 06:00 PM	#13
robertoa1a Wannabe Elite Explorer Jacksonville, FL 96 5.0 xlt 2wd white/char Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 973 Vehicle Specs	Could they be used for ballancing? How much do they weigh?

05-11-2009, 06:23 PM	#15
robertoa1a Wannabe Elite Explorer Jacksonville, FL 96 5.0 xlt 2wd white/char Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 973 Vehicle Specs	I don't know! It's kind of a mystry. Someone from the factory lost thier dogtags?

05-12-2009, 04:32 PM	#16
jlw927 Wannabe Elite Explorer ny 95 eddie bauer Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 18 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	i spoke to my local mechanic and he seems to think they are the ears from the friction plates that broke off.....

05-17-2009, 09:40 AM	#17
IZwack Germantown, MD Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 22,390 Vehicle Specs	Mmm the plot thickens: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...23#post2200823 __________________ »»»»»...how'd the moon get there, how'd the moon get there?

05-17-2009, 11:19 AM	#18
Nick26 Elite Explorer Cumberland, RI 98' 5.0 XLT Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 1,190 Vehicle Specs	hahaha, that's funny, the threads are so close together too... forgive me for not posting in this thread, "random metal coin like things in diff" is not exactly an easy thing to search for. I just looked more closely at mine and noticed a couple numbers too. It looks like 03 something on one of them and 01 something on the other. I have put nearly 80K this axle on it since find them the first time and it always worked fine, so i don't know if they really affect anything. Although I would think they are there for some reason. There is a little channel in the bottom of the diff housing that holds a little bit of fluid flush with the bottom of the housing, i bet if more people stuck there fingers in there and felt around they'd find them too. __________________ First 2nd gen 5 Speed Manual V8 4WD Explorer! SOA & 3" Front Body Lift BW 1354 Manual T-Case swap Centerforce Dual Friction Clutch, M5OD disassembly and re-assembly

05-18-2009, 12:02 PM	#19
410Fortune ELITE BRONCO2ERER Crawlorado B2 Mod Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 22,099 Vehicle Specs	so friggin weird, none of my 8.8's have these things.. I dont think metal parts floating around in your differential are factory pieces that are supossed to be there LOL __________________ 96 Explorer daily driver build-1996 XLT 5.0L AWD to 4x4 conversion complete on 33's 88 BII 5.0L conversion - BII 5.0l drivetrain thread My Bronco II - 1988 Bronco II 4x4 V8 on 35's - registry and updates Wifes 07 FJ build - 2007 FJ cruiser locked and lifted