I'd be way too embarrassed to ask for a warranty after all these years.
let it go man.
chalk it up to a learning experience.
What's wrong with you? Your advising OP to just bend over and take a reaming. The warranty is a contract without time limit. Why would you be loathe to get what you deserve?
Would your attitude be different if OP had ridden the bike every day for the 8 years? Lifetime means lifetime.