Found Ball Bearing While Replacing Oil Pan Gasket

[OldDustyTJ03]

Doing the rear main and oil pan gasket on my TJ and found this ball bearing stuck to the RTV on the original oil pan gasket. It came from the front drivers-side corner near the timing chain. When I was pulling off the original oil pan gasket, this ball bearing came flying off with it.

Now I'm wondering if this ball bearing serves a purpose or is it just some type of fluke from the assembly process??

 

[Sensei]

Man I just saw a post recently 1-2 weeks ago where someone else found the exact same issue. I am having trouble digging up the post now sadly. Anyone else read that and able to find a link?

As far as ball bearings are concerned, I'm not familiar with many components within the engine itself that would use a ball bearing, if any. Closest thing to engine I can think of, that could still possibly fall into the oil pan, is the throwout bearing. Is your vehicle a manual? Can you fill out your profile?

 

[macleanflood]

I thought that was a transmission...

I wonder if that's a check ball from the oil pump pressure relief valve.

-Mac

 

[OldDustyTJ03]

Man I just saw a post recently 1-2 weeks ago where someone else found the exact same issue. I am having trouble digging up the post now sadly. Anyone else read that and able to find a link?

As far as ball bearings are concerned, I'm not familiar with many components within the engine itself that would use a ball bearing, if any. Closest thing to engine I can think of, that could still possibly fall into the oil pan, is the throwout bearing. Is your vehicle a manual? Can you fill out your profile?

Yeah I couldn't think of anything within the engine that would use a ball bearing, especially one of that size...

2003 4.0L 5spd Manual

 

[OldDustyTJ03]

I thought that was a transmission...

I wonder if that's a check ball from the oil pump pressure relief valve.

-Mac

A friend of mine from work suggested the exact same thing. I haven't had any issues with oil pressure so I'm hoping that's not the case.

 

[macleanflood]

A friend of mine from work suggested the exact same thing. I haven't had any issues with oil pressure so I'm hoping that's not the case.

That would limit the oil pressure to 70-80 psi.

Pretty limited function.

-Mac

 

[mrblaine]

That would limit the oil pressure to 70-80 psi.

Pretty limited function.

-Mac

They use ball bearings like that to seal off machined ports. There is one on every TJ Saginaw steering gear at the front to back fluid port. They have to drill a long hole to route fluid to the front side of the piston as a fluid path. They countersink it larger than the hole, set a ball bearing in it and then peen it over to seal off the end of the hole. The path is completed by drilling from the inside of the piston bore down into the other hole behind the ball bearing.

 

[OldDustyTJ03]

That would limit the oil pressure to 70-80 psi.

Pretty limited function.

-Mac

Right. Kicking myself for not replacing the oil pump as a precautionary measure before putting everything back together. I really don't want to have to drop the oil pan again, but if I start to lose oil pressure...it is what it is.

 

[OldDustyTJ03]

They use ball bearings like that to seal off machined ports. There is one on every TJ Saginaw steering gear at the front to back fluid port. They have to drill a long hole to route fluid to the front side of the piston as a fluid path. They countersink it larger than the hole, set a ball bearing in it and then peen it over to seal off the end of the hole. The path is completed by drilling from the inside of the piston bore down into the other hole behind the ball bearing.

View attachment 570262

A friend of mine at work had mentioned this also, but I could not find any ports on the bottom side of the engine/oil pan where a ball bearing would go. Any ideas?