Metal shavings in rear diff oil

[ga12r1]

So I decided to change my rear diff oil today. It’s been about a year and 10k miles since the initial change at 500 miles after having gear and locker install.
Oil looked great but I found some shavings after cleaning the magnet on the plug. They are very small, paper thin shavings almost like what would come off a drill bit. No chunks.
No noise or excessive heat from rearend.
Should I be concerned?

 

[I Lean]

Those look a bit strange. Not like gear parts or shavings. Leftovers from drilling the housing for your Harrop lockers maybe?

 

[ga12r1]

Those look a bit strange. Not like gear parts or shavings. Leftovers from drilling the housing for your Harrop lockers maybe?

Yeah, maybe, I dunno. I thought about that but it seems strange that they would make it through the install and the initial 500 mile change.

 

[ga12r1]

@abuck99 what are your thoughts?

 

[brownfox]

Looking at the size and shape they definitely seem like leftovers from drilling. The biggest piece doesnt match up though.

 

[ga12r1]

I’m beginning to wonder if the magnet was cleaned at the 500 mile oil change.

 

[ga12r1]

Looking at the size and shape they definitely seem like leftovers from drilling. The biggest piece doesnt match up though.

The largest piece is not curled like a shaving but it’s still paper thin like the rest.

 

[abuck99]

Hard to tell but some looks like drilling shavings. I would send that pic to your installer and ask them to comment. You'd think that diff wouId be cleaned out after drilling it.

Did you already add new fluid? If not, add cheap fluid and flush it once more after a couple hundred miles.

 

[ga12r1]

Hard to tell but some looks like drilling shavings. I would send that pic to your installer and ask them to comment. You'd think that diff wouId be cleaned out after drilling it.

Did you already add new fluid? If not, add cheap fluid and flush it once more after a couple hundred miles.

Yeah I’ll send the installer the pics tomorrow to see what their take is. I refilled with dino so I’ll probably drain again next week and see what I find. Hopefully everything is good.

 

[ga12r1]

So I sent the pics to the very reputable Cruiser Shop that did my gears and lockers.
Response back:
“Lee, That is completely normal findings after a locker install. We have found small amounts of debris like this after break in fluid changes in most cases. How did the fluid look?”
BTW fluid looked great.
Definitely puts my mind at ease.
I’m going to do another drain and refill next week and keep on trucking!

 

[bgolf247]

I found some pretty similar looking pieces in a donor locked '99 diff I put on my 2000 LC. Hopefully nothing, but I will drain again in the not too distant future and hopefully find a clean magnet.