Help, what is this piece of metal in my rear differential?

[Ramalanche]

I decided to replace my rear differential fluid in my 2002 ram 1500 4x4 and found these pieces of metal sitting at the bottom. What are they? I assume I need do have something repaired but I was not having a problem or hearing any noises. I was just doing it as routine maintenance at 100,000 miles

 

[NJMOPAR]

The curly piece looks like a mangled C-clip. Definitely not supposed to be in there. Further inspection is required.

 

[HemiLonestar]

That's your differential fixing to die. Long standing problem that generation. It's always been called the C clip issue, but it's not the C clips that hold the axles in place, that's from the limited slip.

 

[retired]

I would look at your gears and spider gears really good. it could be just **** but probably not. what does the bigger piece look like flipped over. clean them with brake cleaner and take some more photos.

 

[Ramalanche]

Here is another picture with a dime for scale. Everything else looks fine, and I do not see anything like it in the rebuild kits or parts catalog.

 

[retired]

well look on the bright side it is not your ring gears or spider gears. looks like something that might have held a tube or something. the little piece up in the corner is part of it..

 

[Ramalanche]

Do you think it might just be a clip used to hold a tube in place when someone filled it and it fell off in the differential?

 

[Jayglidewell]

They're the clips that hold the clutch plates behind the two axle gears. inside the differential.

 

[HemiLonestar]

Here is another picture with a dime for scale. Everything else looks fine, and I do not see anything like it in the rebuild kits or parts catalog.View attachment 485959

It's ironic that you chose a dime lol, but varying examples from days past:



That second one looks REAL familiar, doesn't it lol? It's on borrowed time. Do something sooner rather than later.
Google "dodge ram c clip failure" or "dodge ram lsd clip failure"

 

[Ramalanche]

I plan to get the differential repaired tomorrow. Not sure what all they will want to replace, but I will post the results and cost here. This shows why it is good to pull the cover vs just vacuum out the fluid. If I had vacuumed I would not have known I had a problem.

 

[3pedals]

I thought the c-clips were only necessary for assembly, and if they break/fall out without damaging differential, there’s nothing to worry about.

 

[retired]

I thought the c-clips were only necessary for assembly, and if they break/fall out without damaging differential, there’s nothing to worry about.

makes sense.

 

[Ramalanche]

I took it to my mechanic, he looked at it and recommended I do nothing.

 

[Dusty]

I thought the c-clips were only necessary for assembly, and if they break/fall out without damaging differential, there’s nothing to worry about.

Could be, but I'd be concerned about a loose piece of metal moving around in the differential. However, every AAM LSD I've opened up has had one of those little curly pieces in it.

I freely admit I'm 'old school' and always remove the diff cover for cleaning the inside of the case. A lot of folks just suck out some fluid through the refill hole and replenish.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33 gallon fuel tank, factory dual exhaust, 18” wheels. Build date: 03 June 2018. Now at: 065202 miles.