[reframmellator]

I have a 2004 EX I4 5MT with 142,500 miles. This morning I experienced the second disabling failure in our family's record of eight Hondas and about 800,000 miles. Both occurred around 140,000 miles, so I ain't complaining.

After backing out of the driveway this morning to go to work, I shifted into first, whereupon I heard a loud noise and the car didn't move. I can shift freely into every gear, but there's no transmission of power to the wheels. If I rev it slightly in fourth gear, I can hear [external] rotating parts hitting each other.

There are no puddles under the car, just a little pile of dust and a rubber-encased metal donut-looking thingy. It is labeled SDA-A51. The inner rubber sleeve is torn, as you can see in the picture on the left below.

Any idea what happened here? I once replaced the half shafts on a Taurus wagon and it wasn't that bad. Is this a DIY job, should I have it towed to the dealer, or is it going to be so expensive I should think about retiring it? KBB private party value is about $6k.

 

[OG_Zuninja]

Looks like a broken axle to me. I'm assuming they're original?

 

[KH]

I'd also look under the hood and have someone move the shifter lever at the same time... Wonder if it could have been a shifter bushing breaking,a nd the loud noise was when you half engaged the trans while letting the clutch out, and it broke mid-process? Doubtful, I know, but that rubber bushing doesn't look big enough to be off of the axle, IMHO.. :dunno:

Let us know what it winds up being!

 

[reframmellator]

The shafts are original. That's the service rep's diagnosis over the phone as well. He thinks the pictured part is a balancer.

 

[KH]

Well, let's hope.. Because axles aren't that expensive.

Subscribed. :yes: Keep us posted.

 

[reframmellator]

So the half shaft is broken on the passenger side. May be coincidence, maybe not, but the same side on which I hit a curb at about 10 mph to avoid a minivan changing into my lane. Happened almost a year ago.

I could do it myself but I'm choosing not to. I'd need a 36 mm socket and probably a 3/4" breaker bar for openers. I'll leave it to the skilled techs at Saratoga Honda. They tell me I may be able to get an aftermarket remanufactured half shaft if Honda doesn't offer one.

Plus my $0.26/month towing rider with State Farm covers towing to the dealer. Completely.

Now I definitely want to hit the 200k miles mark.

 

[KH]

Great that it is only an axle, though!

I'd doubt it was from that curb, but who knows.. :dunno:. I'd suggest doing the other side as well, but that's just me.

4th gear probably made more noise because it was swinging around at ~45MPH.

 

[OG_Zuninja]

I guessed it right! Woohoo! What do I win?

 

[Dreamacre]

Auto Zone or Advance Auto should have 1/2 shafts.
I replaced both on the 2005 a few years ago. I think they were @ $65 each. :dunno:

Be thankful it happened there and not in the middle of nowhere.

 

[redhat]

So good to hear it was only that. You'll have 'er back and driving around in no time. :thmsup:

Have never saw a half shaft break like that, only usually with a ripped boot and the CV joint losing all it's lube.

 

[mc1114]

Ewww...rust

 

[Mike W]

Auto Zone or Advance Auto should have 1/2 shafts.
I replaced both on the 2005 a few years ago. I think they were @ $65 each. :dunno:

Be thankful it happened there and not in the middle of nowhere.

Just looked them up for Autozone and you're right, about $70 for each side.

If you want a good laugh look up the same CV axles on Honda Parts Now and look at the price...they're in the $400-$500 range FOR EACH SIDE!! What a rip off...

Glad your fix is as simple as the CV axle though :thmsup:

 

[Drew03Accord]

Just looked them up for Autozone and you're right, about $70 for each side.

If you want a good laugh look up the same CV axles on Honda Parts Now and look at the price...they're in the $400-$500 range FOR EACH SIDE!! What a rip off...

Glad your fix is as simple as the CV axle though :thmsup:

As low as $29.99 at Advance

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...s/servlet/product_cv-axle-shaft-assembly-fenco_19870909-p?searchTerm=axle+shaft

 

[Joeggernaut]

For 145k miles that is some serious rust. You must live in the north-east and never wash your car during the winter months.

I refuse to buy a car that has spent anytime up north where they salt roads, been there done that...

 

[reframmellator]

For upstate NY and ten winters, that is very little rust, actually. And I do wash my cars frequently. Many ten year old cars up here have much, much further advanced corrosion - if they're on the road. This one has zero body rust. It's part of the price we pay for living in a socialist workers' paradise. There's a price to be paid anywhere you choose to live.

Thanks to all for the advice on aftermarket vs Honda. Just got off the phone with the service rep - they will go aftermarket, which probably means remanufactured, which is fine. Like $400+ fine.

 

[Drew03Accord]

For upstate NY and ten winters, that is very little rust, actually. And I do wash my cars frequently. Many ten year old cars up here have much, much further advanced corrosion - if they're on the road. This one has zero body rust. It's part of the price we pay for living in a socialist workers' paradise. There's a price to be paid anywhere you choose to live.

Thanks to all for the advice on aftermarket vs Honda. Just got off the phone with the service rep - they will go aftermarket, which probably means remanufactured, which is fine. Like $400+ fine.

Don't miss that part of living in NY. Do you ever jack it up and hose off the underneath?

 

[2005 6mt]

Ewww...rust

Haha we don't all live in the desert... Like OP said for upstate NY that's pretty good IMO.

 

[reframmellator]

Don't miss that part of living in NY. Do you ever jack it up and hose off the underneath?

If it's warm enough, I go to the coin-op car wash, load quarters into the machine and spray the daylights out of the underside. If it's too cold for that I do the drive-thru with the undercarriage wash.

In the spring, I just get under using my trusty garden hose. Never really jacked it up to do it.

By the way, it's still the original exhaust.

 

[redhat]

Your car looks great. And that rust is nothing. It's just a fact of life in NYS.

If I was buying a car and saw that rust there I would be all about it. I have driven much much much worse. My 94 LeSabre, pull up the back seat and you can touch the ground.


Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

 

[reframmellator]

Update - no other damage. Dealer installed a NAPA axle and replaced a cracked $0.26 shaft seal while he was in there. I asked and he suggested a PM on the other axle/seal wasn't really necessary. Plus they repaired my rattling heat shield over the exhaust pipe - all for about 40% of what a new Honda axle would have cost.

I do most of my own maintenance but I like the service department at my dealer because they are willing to work with you.

Back on the road today!