1g output shaft retaining ball missing

[805eclipse]

So i was taking off my transfer case to replace the seals and when i pulled it away from the transmission the output shaft started sliding out with it. i was able just to pull it all the way out. so i took off the transmission end case and removed the vc to see if the ball was there and it is gone. does that mean its inside my transmission somewhere? it was not anywhere inside the end case, is it possible for the ball to end up deeper inside the tranny? Thanks for your help.

 

[TurboJimbo]

Once the ball is in place and the VC is installed, the ball should never "just" come out....with that said, there is a good chance that whom ever was in the trans last never put it back

 

[805eclipse]

I have had the dealer replace my transfer case 3 times is there any chance they would have removed the output shaft and not put the ball back in?

 

[TurboJimbo]

There is no reason to touch the output shaft when replacing just the transfer case

If they did in fact go into the trans, then like I said before...with the ball in place, the VC installed and the correct snap ring to get the correct VC endplay is installed that ball will never come out unless the trans blows sky high and everything goes everywhere...I'm pretty sure the ball was not put back in