Sliver of metal in trans pan

I changed the fluid and filter in my 300SDL today and in the pan was this sliver of metal with like 2 other tiny metal shavings. Car shifts great, and the only reason I changed the fluid was for maintenece. Any ideas?

[mreid]

Ummm. Looks like it might be from a sealing ring or something. I would drive it for a while and then take the pan off again. If there are more pieces then you know your tranny is not long with this world.

I hope your wrong. Last time this trans was serviced was at 215K miles, now at 245K miles I see this peice of metal (with what looks like 2 small rivits in it) the transmission shifts PERFECTLY and have seen absolutely no difference in the last 30K in shifting..

John

[mreid]

Metal in the pan is never a good sign. If it is the original tranny then I would expect that it is starting to die.

[psfred]

My guess (and it is only a guess, I've never taken apart an MB tranny) is a part of the shell on a Torrington bearing (flat bearing with radial rollers) -- too small to be anything else with rivets or holes. If it is, you are going to eat up the internals pretty fast, although it will shift just fine.

245,000, you are getting close to the end of the life of the automatic. Rebuild now will be simple, replace the clutches/bands, new bearings, sliprings, and seals, and off you go. If you wait too long, everything gets munched and it gets REALLY expensive.

I'd go talk to a tranny shop before I paniced, but you may want to plan on work fairly soon.

peter

I found a torrington bearing picture, it looks similar, but the sheared off "rivits" on my peice are about 1/2 inch apart, and this picture shows them close together. The outside of mine is corroded while the inside is pretty shiny, but a little corroded. Possibly indicating to me its been laying in the pan for a long time. Any more ideas?



John