I'm fixing up my ford explorer thought there was really nothing wrong with it..just needs new fluid all around.
we had the tranny rebuilt 8 years ago and it has never had any problems other than leaking fluid. When the fluid got too low it would slip, top it off and it would shift fine.

I droped the tranny pan to change the oil and filter this is what I found

first the bolts holding the pan on were all loose enough for me to not have to break them loose at all.

in the pan were a few little needle bearings and a couple large pieces of metal the rest was fine shiny metel particals floating in the fluid as the magnets were missing.

removed the filter...and the part above the filter with a bunch of little bolts...half of them were loose!...

this doesnt make sence to me...
if this metal was from the tranny...
then topping off the fluid shouldnt fix the slipping.

the guys at the parts store agree that there is something funny here.

there are no other signs of damage and not enough bearings
there should be more if they are from my tranny.

91 automatic 4x4 ford Explorer
any Ideas??...