OK, I tore apart the the OEM oil filter. Attached is a pic. And yes, there were tiny bits of steel in there. Not a lot, but more than anyone would like to find. I am sure they will play hell with some bearing surfaces. But then again, there may have been a total of 30 flecks of metal much smaller than the head of a pin.
Steve, that is what I intend to do. Take off the tranny and pull the bearing and see what condition it is in. If the IMS is in perfect condition (which I seriously doubt), then I will have to look for problems elsewhere. Until I take things apart, everything is just speculation.
