"There is a tiny check valve in the pump which consists of a small plastic piece, and a ball bearing. The plastic crumbled away, and the ball bearing got sucked into the piston causing some minor damage to the contact surface for the seal."


I, too ran into the mysterious ball bearing behind my piston, only I can't for the life of me figure out where it is supposed to go. I didn't find any plastic pieces either. I have scoured the internet to find it in a drawing, but to no avail. I did, however, find a hole in the grove between the nylon rings of the stator. There are stake marks opposite each other and the ball sits nicely there. Hopefully I put it in the right place, I would hate to have to pull the trans again if not. Any drawings or pics of this little ball and where it it supposed to go would be a great help....