Yes that is the Thrust pad.
It will need to be put back in and adj.
Now for your next surprise,
The hex nut on the adj. screw is supposed to be tack welded.
Dumb move,but that's what they do.
If it is you will need to carefully cut the weld or find a new screw and nut.
Some MV suppliers have them NOS.
TGP
Brand new "punkin' pusher bolts" as my buddy the antique, err, old farm equipment fixer calls them. (He is OLD compared to my spring youth of not_yet_fifty!)
Looks like I'll tear this good diff down and see what is inside, drop the spider and brass set in while I'm fooling around in it's guts..
Damn glad it choose to fall out NOW, rather than start clanking around well after chassis is rolling around!!!
Appreciate the help Gents. Makes hanging around Robi's that much more pleasurable.
kevinL
'52 M-37 "Old Blue" still in 11enty-bazillion parts
'52 M-37 "Rusty Red" parted
It is the thrust pad, BUT the fact that it just dropped out spells bad news. If it had been installed & adjusted correctly, there is NO WAY it could have just dropped out. 1 of 2 things would have taken place, the adjustment screw jamb nut could have backed off, not likely as they are most often welded. BTW you can easily salvage & reuse the adjustment screw & jamb nut even though it has been welded, we have reused these countless times. 2nd possibility, incorrectly adjusted ring gear carrier or bad carrier bearing that has let the carrier shift out of its correct position. I'd bet something is going on along these lines, the pad doesn't just fall out. Correct adjustment is .006" - .008" between the pad & the back side of the ring gear, hardly enough slack that it can fall off the pin.