Kizashi Club

Looks like something is missing? No?

The cv boot and the clamps! You need to get that repaired asap before dirt ruins that cv joint!

Just checked rockauto....

Unless you happen to drive a manual and that is the front left you might have trouble finding one. $160 is insane for a cv boot and half shaft. I'm used to looking at parts for subarus and fords.

$160 is actually a pretty good deal. I've spent more on my 94 Accord.

There's a couple of cars here that have been totaled. I'm sure the parts can be obtained from them. Also, you could just get a boot repair kit that's much cheaper.

Wow, isn't this like the 3rd time the mechanic has forgotten to put something back on your car?!?

Wait, what?!?

If someone forgot to put that back, I'd take it back to them and DEMAND my part for free.

This is exactly why I won't let anyone touch my cars...wtf...

I think it is how it's supposed to look. I'm going off memory, but I recall my axle looking like this too and I also drive a FWD manual like the OP. I believe the component pictured by the OP is of the axle before the CV joint. CV joints don't look like what is pictured even without a boot on it. Exposed CV joints would look like the picture below and would be located closer to the wheel.

Originally that's what I was thinking too, except that there are two rings that look like where bands would be and there's a mark on the axle as well where something has been clamped to it. It may not be a cv boot as there is another boot inside the housing to the right now that I take a second look, but something is definitely missing.

I really don't think anything is missing for a number of reasons. First, I recall my front axle looking like that too. Also, this component couldn't be the CV joint by both location and design. Lastly, the photographed component looks like a rubber sheath over the axle which is surrounded by a floating rubber bushing. These sort of components aren't typically found at CV joints.
I plan on looking in my own car and taking a photo at the next opportunity but I'm quite confident this is how the front axle looks for FWD Manual Trans models which the OP and I both drive.

Forgot I posted this. I think they removed this axle and it may be marks from a tool they used. I was more worried about it being a missing rubber harmonic dampener.