mish__

Spent a lot on a clutch master cylinder, slave master cylinder, clutch kit and flywheel... thinking clutch was slipping. But, no. Learned the hard way.

After 10 minutes of driving, brakes stiffen and odometer/speed drops. Smoke on front wheel areas. Weird smell.

I never messed with the brake master cylinder (full), calipers, brake pads/rotors. Just happened out of nowhere when I was driving home from work one day. Any ideas?

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

Did you say smoke? Sounds like your brakes are binding.

mish__

Yeah like a smelly burnt brakes or fluid smell. And black dust on the wheels. I wasted so much money thinking it was the clutch and components, its not even funny o: so im moving onto a brake situation.

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

Take your car to a shop.

type_r_ek

sounds like a seized pistion in the caliper.. which side it smoking? check the caliper first

MySickSi

If your drovong does your car pull to one side? If so check the oposite side for a seized calipar. Jack your car up and try spinning your rotors too, does one or both not spin freely?

mish__

Both sides. Car doesn't pull. Smoke out of both sides.

tahitianclean

lol that sucks. do what sick si said and jack ur car up and try to spin ur wheels by hand with the car off, if it doesnt feel stiff or seem like its getting brake force then u dont have seized calipers and its guna be a problem with brake pressure, your car is applying brake pressure at all times wen ur driving wich is gota be killing ur mpg. check the brake pedal for inconsistencies in travel, if you said its getting stiff without you pumping ur brakes than u have a malfunction in the system, could be the booster, doesnt make sense that it would be the cylinder, has to be something that actually causes pressure, not something that contains fluid and resists pressure. weird problem homie im sorry to hear it. **** like that pisses me off, makes u think "why me?" lol. northern cali love all day

mish__

Yeah, and I just got this car and im super pissed because the last one I didn't want to deal with so I got this one and this one is another story. Saved up money for parts I wanted and now it seems like parts I need instead.

Anyways, swung by pepboys this morning and I told them my situation, one guy said it couldn't be brakes and it must be a vacuum leak. Another guy said it doesn't sound like the brake system at all, but a transmission problem and referred me to a different place, but they were closed. All this diagnosed without putting my car on a rack, im tired of guessing games. I guess they steered away from brakes problem because it smokes from both wheel sides after 10 minutes of driving, the brakes get stiff and lock up, and the car doesn't want to push 40 and it drags.

tahitianclean

It is most definetly a brake broblem. Here another test: drive for ten minutes or so then get out and put ur hand near the brakes but dont come too close or touch them, if it feels scorching hot after normal driving then u just proved pepboys wrong.

mish__

Ill try that after work tonight.

Yeah, the guy from pepboys told me it was also unlikely to be brakes if its smoking out both wheels and leaving black dust on both wheels because usually only one caliper goes out and not both. And that its likely the transmission because the transmission is in the center holding both axles, plus if the brakes were locking up, I should be able to drive with locked up brakes or something. I dont know. The transmission has no sounds coming from it. No pops or grinds, etc. Im taking it to clutchesnmore on Thursday to see what's up. But, I would love to figure this out before shelling out money.

mish__

Update: I wrote a shop nearby since they were closed, I needed a quote, and i'll be out of town or working till wednesday. I saw a lot of positive reviews from yelp about the shop. Its called clutchesnmore. I described my situation to them, ryan wrote back and told me he'll check out my car for free and that it does sound like a brake problem like a lot of you said and a lot of people are telling me. If it is... pepboys can suck it.

MySickSi

Just take 5 minutes of your time jack the car up and try to spin your wheels.. then you can tell if you have locked up calipars.

Alpha Q

try bleeding your brakes... & check the vacuum line on the brake booster...

HDsol1996

Does sound like seized caliper pistons and since it appears to be both, maybe a some contamination of the brake fluid.

mish__

Thanks guys. Pepboys can suck my invisible wing dang doodle!

I took my car to a local shop that was nice enough to put my car on a lift and check it for free. It was my brakes! And the fluid is contaminated. The shop owner told me it looks like hydraulic fluid. So some dumbf&ck put something else other than dot 3 brake fluid in there and I guess it was a matter of time. Im pissed and stressed because 1) im a girl and I know that ****, how dumb can the person who did it be? 2) I don't have the 1,410 that they quoted me on to pay for that 3) reality. Life got serious on me. Its my daily. I recently moved on my own with no one to rely on for rides to work, etc...

So, I was advised by the shop to replace all 4 of my calipers, brake lines, brake master cylinder, brake pads... all equals up to 1,410 labor included. Since I can barely make it on my own and I don't have a magical money tree. Any alternatives? Suggestions? He checked the rubber in the reservoir and its swelled, so after that, that's what he suggested I do.

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

With the exception of bleeding the brakes it's all bolt off-bolt-on. Get some buddies with some muscle to help you and save that labor money for another day.

mish__

Do you think flushing the brake system and bleeding it will help? Or should I just parts and look for help? Im okay with doing most of the work myself, just rusty on bleeding.

mish__

Replace* sorry im mobile.

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

If the brakes are binding I doubt it but it couldn't hurt. Get one of those one man bleeders to help you out when you get to that point.

mish__

That means I might as well just replace everything -.-

Is it recommended to replace the brake booster as well?

ej1ryder

I would replace anything that came in contact with the hydro fluid. But if ur really that budget strapped than u MAY be able to bleed the system and then flush it with some extra dot 3, bleed it again, and refill with fresh dot 3. Depending on what kinda damage was caused by all the heat its been dealing with u may be able to get away with just a bleed n flush. Bay love northern cali love all day.

mish__

Got front calipers and rear calipers.
2 front hoses.
one of the rear caliper's piston is sticking out, how can I push it in?
and picking up master cylinder Monday or Tuesday.

So my plans are to flush everything out of the system with dot 3. Take rubber hose off and replace. Anyone know where I can find any diys? And to remove and replace the brake hoses onto the brake lines? I don't want to end up snapping them.

ej1ryder

make sure u open the lid on break fluid to allow venting, u can use a vice grip as long as it will clear the inner caliper to compress the piston back in, use a rag in between the two so u dont marr or damage the surface edge of the piston. when removing your lines: be very carefull with the hard lines and their mounting points when removing the soft lines, wen u replace them make sure u put them all with all new and proper hardware such as clamps etc... if you lived near 925 bay area id be down to help a fellow honda owner but u will feel much better if u do it urself. keep ur head up, not many females can handle this honda s**t, so props to u lil mama.