This is driving me absolutely INSANE please help out if you can. Just purchased 93 Civic Hatchback CX. Started doing the brakes and noticed that the ware pattern on the front right pads is diagonal (never seen that before!!). Changed front pads, rotors, rotor guide pins and calipers, changed rear shoes, one of the rear cylinders (was leaking), master cylinder (was passing through) and completely bled the system in accordance with the book. Started driving around and noticed substantial power loss, pulled over and saw smoke coming out of the right front wheel (the one that had diagonal ware pattern on the old pads). Long story short right front wheel caliper doesn’t let go of the wheel. I thought it might be the proportioning valve so I went to the junk yard and got one from identical car (however my valve was 30/30 the one I put on is 30/40). Put the valve on same thing right front wheel is locking up, smelling and smoking. Went to the store and exchange the caliper for a new one and the rotor as well (by this time the rotor turned blue). Just put on the new caliper, rotor, rotor guide pins, lubed everything, bled everything and still have the same problem. Please advice on what should I dedicate my attention too, at this point taking the car to the shop would be the same as declaring my surrender and after all of the work and effort that I’ve put into this ride surrender to the shop is not an option.

 

Brake Master Cylinder?

 

my thought its maybe a wheel bearing going bad and maybe heating up and over heating the caliper.

 

As soon as I take the caliper of or ease it the wheels spins just fine, and it doesn't get hot if I don't brake so I don't think its the wheel bearing. Master cylinder is new. I am troubled by the abnormal wear pattern on the old pads (diagonal) has anyone ever seen this? I have felt the brake line all the way through and there is no flat spots, abnormal bends, or any signs of defect. The system bleeds fine so the fluid is passing through. However, every time I go for a test drive around the block and pull into the garage and jack the car up the "bad" wheel barely spins while the other one spins just fine.

 

The piston is not retracting which could be a defective caliper. You said you got new calipers right? If not then check the piston to see if its getting stuck.

 

Yep I did get new calipers and installed them both in the front. When the wheel started to overheat I've exchanged the NEW caliper for another new one thinking that this might be a problem with the caliper, so this is the third caliper now that is having the same problem. However I don't recall the brakes overheating with the old caliper on them only the abnormal diagonal wear on the pads. After the installation of the third caliper and the heating problem I ended up removing the caliper and checking its retracting ability it was fine (easily retracted back when the brake line is disconnected, with the connected brake line I can barelly forece it back in with the use of the C clamp)