Small Steel sliver origin??

[bison]

While tearing down a 4L80 the other day i found a small piece of steel between the input and intermediate shaft.It looks like it has broke off of a pressed steel bearing race or spacer washer.

there is no evidence of its origin found in the entire tranny.
no other failure found.No debrie in the pan either.

Could this little steel piece come from the Torque converter somehow?
,altough it seems to big to negotiate the oil passages.

 

[Mike L.]

Show a picture. Normaly peices of metal smaller than powder cannot makeit to the pan.

 

[bison]

pics,sorry, not as sharp as i intended

 

[primo382]

is there any small edges missing from the clutch assemblies where the snap rings seat?

I've seen edges like this broken off the hard parts when they're seated improperly in a vise and bushings are being driven in. Since they're cast, they can have stress cracks that essentially split them but they're still wedged in and if the snap ring is intalled without noticing them it can seperate over time when the piston is engaging and force is put against the retaining snap ring.

If the trans has been gone through in the past then this is a possibility. If not then it could have been a weak spot in one of the castings. If it's steel than it's most likely one of the clutch parts.

 

[bison]

Tranny was never apart before,I inspected every part for damage or missing pieces.
None found.It is definetly pressed steel, more like a thin snapring or a piece of a clutch spring assembly or trust brg race.
I have no clue how it came in there.
I blame it on the factory.