So the other day, i was flushing my transmission and diffs. the front diff fluid was very clean. the tranny fluid was also very clean. the rear diff fluid was slightly dirty, but i found about 5 or six of these tiny springs. i'm talking smaller than the springs you find in a clicky-top pen. anyhow, they were attached to the drain plug magnet. now i bought this thing used, and to my knowledge it does not have any lockers in it, however that is the only thing that i can think of that would have those small springs. any thoughts?.

92 Runner, V6, Manual 5,

 

Wow, never heard of that happening.

 

Were they broken on the ends, like pieces of one long spring broken up or were they all the same length? Maybe a seal came apart, they sometimes have a long circular spring around the inside.

 

X2. I know that some seals have a very very small "spring" in them. I don't know if axle seals do or not but that would be my best guess.

 

I agree with the others about a seal being the source: sounds too small to be of use in a locker... now which seal is another issue.
Most shaft seals have a spring wrapped around inside the lip of the seal to help pull the seal tight around the shaft. If someone messed up installing the shaft or seal, the spring may've been popped out and chewed a bit by the gears before they got to the magnet.

 

I bet the previous owner is playing a hoax on you...put them in there to confuse everyone

 

x3 on the axle shaft seals. The outboard seals on each axle have a circular spring that preloads the seal lip against the shaft. I would bet that someone had the axles out and when they put them back in they popped one or both of them off.

You may want to pull your axles to verify that is what it is and to replace the seal so that you do not get a leak out at the brakes.

It is amazing on what a magnet will pick up.

 

There is also a spring like that in the pinion seal, for what its worth. One way or another, it sounds like you've got a bad seal somewhere.

 

Can't remember seeing a seal with a tiny spring in there, are they a bit like the springs used to clamp on the boot on some TREs?




Here's a locker spring, maybe the last owner blew up his locker and never got all the bits out:


Haha, I though about putting a valve in the oil pan to confuse the next person who does the timing chain.

 

That's just mean!!, I like it!

x10 on the seal spring. Prolly an inner shaft seal grenaded at some time. Have the PO's number? Maybe he could entertain ya.

 

Yeah Matt16, a lot of shaft seals have a spring like the tie rod end boots, but they're inside, around the lip that seals against the shaft.

 

you guys are geniuses. i never thought of a seal. i bet that's it. it's not leaking however.

 

Yes, you're right

 

figures 'mt goat' would accept kudos first.

everyone realizes we have to sacrifice a goat when enlightenment is attained, no?