Hey everyone,

I recently started experiencing symptoms that made me think I needed to do a clutch job (1991 Si by the way). So I started to pull parts left and right, but once I removed the driver side axle shaft, I spotted this little gem!





It looks to me like some kind of shielding has had a chunk torn away. While I've never done a clutch job before, I assume that I shouldn't be able to see through to my flywheel! I haven't dropped the transaxle yet, but I would like to be ahead of the game for ordering parts.

Does anyone know what the name of this shielding is, or even what would cause this to happen? I can't find the damn thing anywhere.

I appreciate the help!
Viewing from below drivers side of transaxle.

 

https://honda-tech.com/honda-crx-ef-...bolts-2438482/

Which in parts catalog can be found under:
http://www.hondapartsnow.com/parts-l...ter.html?PNC=1

 

Awesome, thank you radex7!!!

I was racking my brain trying to find that.

I just got the transmission dropped, now on to see what kind of condition my clutch is in.

 

You are welcome! Good luck with your project.

 

I just took the old clutch out. What I found was a bit scary. Three of the teeth on all of the flywheel bolts have been stripped off. Two of the springs had popped out, and one of them had snapped.

I have a new flywheel sitting here, but I'm not sure that I even want to try and take the old one off!

 

Let me be the first one to say it.... HOLY ****!

 

I know, I'm thinking the same thing! The amazing part was that I managed to baby it about 40 miles home in this condition.

I honestly have no idea what to do at this point.

 

I would remove those bolts and install the new one with new bolts. You are going to need a serious impact, or use a crank pulley holder.

ARP should have flywheel bolts available.

 

Wow, that thing must have seen some pretty serious abuse to have that kind of damage. I recall a friend who really liked dropping the clutch at high rpm...his clutch looked very similar to yours. Youch.

Those flywheel bolts shouldn't give you too much trouble, 12 point hardware makes removal a little easier even when damaged like this (opposed to standard 6 point).

 

Ditto the above^^^. just get the proper socket and a good impact and the bolts should not be a problem.

You said, "I recently started experiencing symptoms that made me think I needed to do a clutch job", I am surprized you could shift at all, I broke 1 spring on my clutch and the only way I got home, 3.5kilometers was to start the car in gear, [3rd] and burn the clutch releasing the clutch.

Anyway, GL on the job. 94

 

I am also very shocked that I managed to get all the way home. Must be some super luck or something.

I coasted into a parking spot in first gear, with my clutch pedal all the way to the floor, a moment later the gear somehow engaged and lurched the car a couple feet forward, stalling it. I restarted the car in neutral, and there was a bit of noise, but whenever I engaged a gear, it would start occasionally catching even with the clutch pedal in (making a horrible noise).

I managed to get it into first while rolling, and didn't stop all the way home. If I spotted a red light I would pull into a parking lot and start circling!

On a side note, I struggled all night trying to get those damn flywheel bolts off, with no success. This morning I purchased my first impact wrench and got all six off in less than a minute. I am an idiot for not having bought one years ago.

 

It's sad, but I have seen worst, but only with women drivers. If you keep doing this you may need to go out a buy a different type of clutch.

 

I choose to self-identify as a 'grandmother' driver, so I think I would have better taste in handbags. At least less hot pink.

That being established, who knows if this was do to my own bad clutch practices, or those of the previous owner. I would like to think that I wouldn't screw up my own clutch this bad, having only ever driven a standard, but who knows.

Hit a bit of a wall here, since I have to wait a couple days for my new flywheel bolts to come in. Other than that, my first clutch job is going pretty well, though I think the hardest part will be putting it all back together.

Anyone have any advice as to what extra stuff I can do in the meantime? I have it all apart, I might as well do some preventative maintenance.

 

Main seal, polit bearing, throw out bearing, stainless flywheel, clutch, axle seals, oil pan gasket,

 

A note of caution for the driver axle seal...The Honda part number for the driver side axle seal is wrong. Yes, the Honda parts catalogue at the dealer is wrong and they haven't corrected it.

If you buy the driver axle seal that Honda has in it's system, it will have an ID (inside diameter) of 40mm, which in incorrect. They will have the dimensions of the seal and can tell you (it will be something like 40x56x8)

The ID of the correct axle seal is 35mm, (should be something like 35x56x8). You can measure your axles and see that the sealing surface is 35mm diameter, grab a caliper and check.

If you discover that they have the wrong seal in their system, ask for a 92-95 Civic driver axle seal instead, it will be the correct one (again, double check the dimensions).

Source: I have a '91 Si and I replaced my axle seals...and the driver side was wrong. If you think I'm wrong, check a few online Honda parts websites and see for yourselves.

 

Are you sure you just don't have 92-99 axles?

 

Yes.

You can reference this thread too: http://www.d-series.org/forums/trans...axle-seal.html

OP: If you're so inclined, measure the inside opening in your current driver/passenger axle seals. Please let us know what measurement you get in mm.

 

KP, thank you for the heads up. I will be wary of that when I purchase new axle seals.

I measured the inner diameter of both seals and found them to be 35mm. I'll make damn sure that the new ones are that size too.

 

Pm'd OP about damaged part.