Need help to identify a mystery part

[SittinInTheCheapSeats]

I have a 1992 Ranger 2.3L with the Mazda M5 transmission. The truck has 259,000 miles with no engine or transmission work in the past.

I started noticing fluid under the transmission and concluded that the clutch slave cylinder was leaking. After going through a quart of brake fluid, the shifter became VERY sloppy. I had to keep rotating the shifter knob counterclockeise in order to shift properly and it became difficult (but not impossible) to find the gears. I decided that it was time to drop the tranny and replace the slave cylinder and fix the shifter problem.

When I drained the tranny fluid, the typical gunk came out as well as 2 metallic pieces attached to the magnetic drain plug. I attached a pic of the part. I suspect that it was originally a ring of some kind. If I lay the pieces back together, they appear to be approximately 7/8" inside diameter. I went ahead and dropped the tranny out of the truck to replace the slave cylinder.

I was hoping to NOT do an overhaul on the transmission since it is in excellent condition with no whining.

Can someone help me identify the part? Am I looking at an overhaul?

 

[ab_slack]

If it was leftover after re-assembly I would have called it a broken pocket ring, but since it came out of a working assembly...I don't know.

 

[adsm08]

Kinda looks like one of the wave-spring washers that go under the shifter and keep tension on stuff. I suppose if one broke it could fall down in.

Pop the top of the trans off and see if anything sticks out as missing.

 

[SittinInTheCheapSeats]

Thanks for the input, adsm. I was thinking that it could well be a wave washer of some sort.

Then I took the top off of the tranny, there was ONE wave washer there. Are there normally 2 in there?

 

[4x4junkie]

I seem to recall mine having two washers under the shifter bushings (I think one was flat w/three prongs to retain the bushing within it, the other one being the wave spring).

 

[SittinInTheCheapSeats]

Many, many thanks!!

Thanks for the help! I went to the local Ford dealer this morning to find out that the parts are obsolete. No further help was afforded.

I did find all of the parts online at www.southwestgear.com.