Hopefully you saved your receipts for the fix.
Take them to your local Honda dealer....you never know...they might cover it.

 

Well crap... mine failed like three or four years ago. I don't know where my receipt is.

The bizarre thing is... I still have the snapped axle. I've been meaning to take it to a recycling center to dispose of it, but never managed to go when they're open.

 

For those of you that have gone through the process of replacing the axel, how much did it cost?

 

It can vary from $120 for aftermarket Carquest parts and beer (like in my case), up to $700+ for just one axle using OEM parts and paying dealership labor in someplace like California. It varies significantly. I see zero reason to use OEM parts btw. Just avoid remanufactured axles.

 

As far as the frozen pads I have learned that you clean the bracket and grease between the hardware and the caliper bracket to prevent rust jacking.


And according to recall documents:

”The dealer will inspect both left and right drive shafts for corrosion-related protective coating deformities near the drive shaft’s dynamic damper. If there are deformities near the dynamic damper (40mm for Honda Civic Hybrid and Fit, 50mm for Acura ILX and ILX Hybrid), the drive shaft will be replaced for free. Drives hafts that do not meet the 40mm/50mm requirement will not be replaced as it is estimated the drive shafts will not break for the remaining expected life of the vehicle.”

I assume this means 40cm of bubbling “paint” near the damper or maybe within that distance to the damper.

Both of mine definitely had this


P/S shafter with plenty of missing corrosion protection as well as bubbling under the dampener. The dampener was approximately where the black paint is.

Snapped D/S shaft with approximate vibration dampener location

 

Those of in the rust states will inevitably experience this. Mine looked exactly like yours.

Also ".....for the life expectancy of the vehicle" they say. I guess they don't follow the Fit Freaks.

 

I mean if the corrosion inhibitor is still in good shape on your 2014 chances are it probably won’t get much worse. My experience is by 100000 all the paint is off the shaft between the dampener and the outer boot.

 

My 2012's right axle looked completely fine, then it snapped under the dampener that completely covers several inches of the axle shaft. It absolutely must be cut off to see the axle. There is no way to inspect it short of an Xray machine.

 

Maybe the increased use of salt and brine is causing these issues.

 

Yes, it is absolutely a factor..

 

Called my local dealer today to ask about the timeline. Service rep checked under my name and said "Yours has the recall...but there is no remedy yet"
The remedy meaning ...not enough axles to cover the recall.

 

The Honda website now lists the recall as applying to my 2009 Fit. I'll be driving the car as little as possible and babying it when I do. Murphy's Law says the axle will probably break while crossing train tracks with the kids in their car seats.

My passenger side axle looks like the titanic. There is serious rust everywhere and no paint left.

My driver side axle seems to be in better shape. It's rusty, except for a few inches on each side of the damper. The paint is still visible there, but who knows what it's like underneath the damper.

 

Sounds normal. They are probably replacing the parts with "updated" axles on top of that. Recall procedures can be quite complicated. I worked for several manufacturers for about 27 years.

 

Uh, if you're actually CROSSING, then its fine. All you have to do is let it continue rolling across, don't hit the brakes once you start crossing.

The issue with train tracks are the idiots that STOP on the tracks when they can't finish crossing. People need to learn, if you can't finish crossing without stopping in the middle, then they shouldn't start in the first place.

I hope you have enough sense to never crawl across the tracks slowly enough that you could end up coming to a stop on the tracks instead of rolling through it. I don't care if you have sensitive derrières or kids or whatever, suffering a few bumps going across is far better than having a train slam into you. I've seen too many instances of people proving to be lacking such sensibilities.

When my axle snapped, I had just started to cross a busy street, luckily, I did exactly what I told you... I let the Fit continue rolling itself across.

 

The service rep also told me that it should only be 2-3 weeks before the recall notices are mailed out.

Until then...refrain from 'popping the clutch'!

 

Looks like the recall will apply to Canada as well I just ran my vin to check.

 

anyone know if honda will give free rental like they did during the airbag recall when parts weren't ready?

 

They are under no obligation to provide substitute transportation. If they do offer it, it will be as a courtesy unless specifically outlined in writing. Calling Honda's 1-800 number and voicing your concern respectfully, and using the phrase "I feel unsafe in my vehicle" may produce results in your favor if you do indeed require a rental. Keep in mind, you will surely be required to have insurance that covers the rental etc etc.

 

Are you talking a free rental while they are fixing the car?
Or free rental right now?

 

It depends on what ones needs are I suppose. I cannot speak to what they may allow for on a case by case basis. But I do know that manufactures do not like bad press, or more importantly...lawsuits.

Edit: steve37, I did not read your reply properly before I posted this response. But I will leave my response as it might be relevant to others.