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 to 40 and won't go higher. Smoke on both front wheel areas. Weird smell. Feels like brakes dragging. Sometimes I'd just turn the car off and it would go into gear, but wont move until I wait a few minutes. No grinds, no popouts. Thought the clutch was slipping, but no. Took the old clutch and flywheel out, both were fine and had a lot of meat left on them. Car will run fine when I let it sit for a while, but it will do it again later.

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?

Also took it to pepboys and they didn't even bother looking at it or putting it on the rack and they said it sounds more like a transmission problem than a brake problem and turned me away.

oldcivicjoe

check the heat pre cat. sounds like a plugged cat to me. if heat on exhaust is higher pre cat than post cat, pull it off and knock the element out, then take it for a test drive.

mish__

If it is, id be pissed because I paid 730 for a cat, o2 sensor, and labor from dumb quality tune up in january.

oldcivicjoe

wouldnt be the first time i have seen a brand new cat plug up. if the box was open and sitting dust will get in, then after a fairly sort time the cat element will over heat and melt, causing problems identical to what you are describing. the hard brake pedal comes from very low vacuum due to exhaust gasses staying in the cylinder and not enough fresh air and fuel going in.