Damaged rear axle
#1
Damaged rear wheel assembly
Greetings,
New user, first post. Glad to be here.
My daughter has a 2015 Fit. She was hit in the RR, and the vehicle was repaired. According to the documents, the axle was replaced (I saw the accident photos - can't see how it could have survived). She was assured that the frame was checked for square, and wheels aligned. Fast-forward a year, and a new alignment. The RR wheel toe-in is out of spec (high) by 2x the max value. My mechanic says that rear wheels are not adjustable, so the axle must is bent. My daughter assures me that she has not hit anything (like a curb) since the repair was completed. Her pristine wheel covers bear this out.
While my daughter calls her insurance company, I'm trying to figure out what went wrong with the repair. Is there another part that was damaged and not replaced? Was the new axle installed incorrectly? Could the new axle be bent from the git-go? She had other issues with the repair shop, so my brain immediately goes to the dark side.
I'm anticipating that the repair shop will push back, and the insurance company may do the same, so I want to understand all I can about the parts, the install, etc. so I can figure out what this will cost (OOP) to repair. I shutter at the thought that the entire axle needs to replaced again.
Thanks in advance.
New user, first post. Glad to be here.
My daughter has a 2015 Fit. She was hit in the RR, and the vehicle was repaired. According to the documents, the axle was replaced (I saw the accident photos - can't see how it could have survived). She was assured that the frame was checked for square, and wheels aligned. Fast-forward a year, and a new alignment. The RR wheel toe-in is out of spec (high) by 2x the max value. My mechanic says that rear wheels are not adjustable, so the axle must is bent. My daughter assures me that she has not hit anything (like a curb) since the repair was completed. Her pristine wheel covers bear this out.
While my daughter calls her insurance company, I'm trying to figure out what went wrong with the repair. Is there another part that was damaged and not replaced? Was the new axle installed incorrectly? Could the new axle be bent from the git-go? She had other issues with the repair shop, so my brain immediately goes to the dark side.
I'm anticipating that the repair shop will push back, and the insurance company may do the same, so I want to understand all I can about the parts, the install, etc. so I can figure out what this will cost (OOP) to repair. I shutter at the thought that the entire axle needs to replaced again.
Thanks in advance.
Last edited by hondafitdad; 01-04-2017 at 08:23 AM.
#2
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Re: Damaged rear axle
The rear of the fit does not have any axles. These are front wheel drive vehicles. If they mean the rear subframe, then that would be one whole component and a pretty big job.
That being said, it's the only way these vehicles can be out as there is no OEM adjustments. They can be adjusted with shims but almost no shop will do this... Did you receive proof that the vehicle was aligned after the initial repair? A print out of some sort? Almost sounds like the technician who initially "fixed" it fudged the numbers, unfortunately really easy to do with these newer alignment machines.
Does that RR tire show signs of uneven wear? Cupping/feathering?
-Amp
That being said, it's the only way these vehicles can be out as there is no OEM adjustments. They can be adjusted with shims but almost no shop will do this... Did you receive proof that the vehicle was aligned after the initial repair? A print out of some sort? Almost sounds like the technician who initially "fixed" it fudged the numbers, unfortunately really easy to do with these newer alignment machines.
Does that RR tire show signs of uneven wear? Cupping/feathering?
-Amp
#3
Re: Damaged rear axle
The rear of the fit does not have any axles. These are front wheel drive vehicles. If they mean the rear subframe, then that would be one whole component and a pretty big job.
That being said, it's the only way these vehicles can be out as there is no OEM adjustments. They can be adjusted with shims but almost no shop will do this... Did you receive proof that the vehicle was aligned after the initial repair? A print out of some sort? Almost sounds like the technician who initially "fixed" it fudged the numbers, unfortunately really easy to do with these newer alignment machines.
Does that RR tire show signs of uneven wear? Cupping/feathering?
-Amp
That being said, it's the only way these vehicles can be out as there is no OEM adjustments. They can be adjusted with shims but almost no shop will do this... Did you receive proof that the vehicle was aligned after the initial repair? A print out of some sort? Almost sounds like the technician who initially "fixed" it fudged the numbers, unfortunately really easy to do with these newer alignment machines.
Does that RR tire show signs of uneven wear? Cupping/feathering?
-Amp
Thanks for the response. Yea, not an axle - I am way too old school! I helped out my daughter and husband as best I could, but tried not to be the nosy dad. As it turns out, that was probably a mistake. I should have micro-managed this from the start. My daughter said that she doesn't see anything related to an alignment printout, so I would have to pursue that with the body shop...hopefully they'd have something in their file. Based on my other interactions with them, fudging would be the order of the day. Or, no alignment at all. Of course, my word against theirs.
While the insurance adjuster's notes do say "replace axle," I now realize this is certainly all the parts that compose the RR wheel assembly. I need to find out exactly what was replaced. My concern, of course, is that they'll double-talk my daughter, and deny any wrongdoing with me. I have to essentially accuse them of screwing up, which I expect they will vehemently deny.
As for tires, I just rotated them. They have about 14k on them since the repair, and no obvious signs of cupping. I guess it's just a matter of time.
Forgot to mention the numbers in initial post. The range for the rear is 0-24 degrees. The LR is spot on. The RR is 53.
I think her insurance company would consider paying out, as if she hit a curb (ie. new claim)e, rather than a bad repair. However, it's a safe bet that her premiums will rise. Alternative is OOP, which you say is expensive.
Rock and a hard place.
#4
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Re: Damaged rear axle
Amp,
Thanks for the response. Yea, not an axle - I am way too old school! I helped out my daughter and husband as best I could, but tried not to be the nosy dad. As it turns out, that was probably a mistake. I should have micro-managed this from the start. My daughter said that she doesn't see anything related to an alignment printout, so I would have to pursue that with the body shop...hopefully they'd have something in their file. Based on my other interactions with them, fudging would be the order of the day. Or, no alignment at all. Of course, my word against theirs.
While the insurance adjuster's notes do say "replace axle," I now realize this is certainly all the parts that compose the RR wheel assembly. I need to find out exactly what was replaced. My concern, of course, is that they'll double-talk my daughter, and deny any wrongdoing with me. I have to essentially accuse them of screwing up, which I expect they will vehemently deny.
As for tires, I just rotated them. They have about 14k on them since the repair, and no obvious signs of cupping. I guess it's just a matter of time.
Forgot to mention the numbers in initial post. The range for the rear is 0-24 degrees. The LR is spot on. The RR is 53.
I think her insurance company would consider paying out, as if she hit a curb (ie. new claim)e, rather than a bad repair. However, it's a safe bet that her premiums will rise. Alternative is OOP, which you say is expensive.
Rock and a hard place.
Thanks for the response. Yea, not an axle - I am way too old school! I helped out my daughter and husband as best I could, but tried not to be the nosy dad. As it turns out, that was probably a mistake. I should have micro-managed this from the start. My daughter said that she doesn't see anything related to an alignment printout, so I would have to pursue that with the body shop...hopefully they'd have something in their file. Based on my other interactions with them, fudging would be the order of the day. Or, no alignment at all. Of course, my word against theirs.
While the insurance adjuster's notes do say "replace axle," I now realize this is certainly all the parts that compose the RR wheel assembly. I need to find out exactly what was replaced. My concern, of course, is that they'll double-talk my daughter, and deny any wrongdoing with me. I have to essentially accuse them of screwing up, which I expect they will vehemently deny.
As for tires, I just rotated them. They have about 14k on them since the repair, and no obvious signs of cupping. I guess it's just a matter of time.
Forgot to mention the numbers in initial post. The range for the rear is 0-24 degrees. The LR is spot on. The RR is 53.
I think her insurance company would consider paying out, as if she hit a curb (ie. new claim)e, rather than a bad repair. However, it's a safe bet that her premiums will rise. Alternative is OOP, which you say is expensive.
Rock and a hard place.
At this point, I'm honestly not sure what to suggest. Hopefully the insurance will help you out, but it sounds like it needs a rear subframe.
-Amp
#5
Re: Damaged rear axle
The subframe could have been replaced...I have yet to see the paperwork. Regardless, whatever was done was done wrong. If the rear subframe was not replaced, I will have to build a case that this was a significant oversight. Your input is helpful here, thanks.
The insurance company is a key player here...so I am not optimistic. I know what you're thinking..."his daughter is mega-screwed!"
And here we go...
The insurance company is a key player here...so I am not optimistic. I know what you're thinking..."his daughter is mega-screwed!"
And here we go...
#6
Honda-Tech Member
Re: Damaged rear axle
Funny honda says it an axle beam. Here is the process from Honda so you can sound intelligent when you start making your complaint.
EDIT: this works best using Internet Explorer some other browsers the photos don't show.
This is for all the components:
http://hondafitjazz.com/manual3/index.html
This is how it's removed and or replaced.
Honda Jazz / Honda Fit GE8 2009 onwards Online Repair Manual
EDIT: this works best using Internet Explorer some other browsers the photos don't show.
This is for all the components:
http://hondafitjazz.com/manual3/index.html
This is how it's removed and or replaced.
Honda Jazz / Honda Fit GE8 2009 onwards Online Repair Manual
#7
Re: Damaged rear axle
Funny honda says it an axle beam. Here is the process from Honda so you can sound intelligent when you start making your complaint.
EDIT: this works best using Internet Explorer some other browsers the photos don't show.
This is for all the components:
Honda Jazz / Honda Fit GE8 2009 onwards Online Repair Manual
This is how it's removed and or replaced.
Honda Jazz / Honda Fit GE8 2009 onwards Online Repair Manual
EDIT: this works best using Internet Explorer some other browsers the photos don't show.
This is for all the components:
Honda Jazz / Honda Fit GE8 2009 onwards Online Repair Manual
This is how it's removed and or replaced.
Honda Jazz / Honda Fit GE8 2009 onwards Online Repair Manual
Last night, my daughter told me that her insurance company was very sympathetic, and is working on a solution. Fingers crossed.
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#8
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Re: Damaged rear axle
-Amp
#9
Re: Damaged rear axle
Thanks claymore, that is absolutely correct and I apologize for the incorrect information. Brain fart and used the wrong name. Alldata shows this is a 2.7 hour job as well. So, if they try to say it's more I can send you the information upon request so you can have that as well.
-Amp
-Amp
This is good stuff. Thanks again.
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