My rear brakes lock up after driving the car. When the car is cool, I can release the e-brake and push the car around. But with it off, the more I drive, the more the rear drums lock up. After driving around the block, the car almost doesn't move because the rears are locked.

I have a 1993 Civic EG hatch with a fresh 1.8 GSR swap. This problem started after the swap was complete.

 

are the wheel cylenders leaking?
if not replace the hold off valve

well... how old is the hardware?

 

Im assuming the hardware is from 1993. It was also changed from auto to stick.

What is the hold off valve?

 

well start with new hardware
and make sure the wheel cylenders are good

hold off valve = metering valve

drum brakes need additional pressure to overcome the springs that hold the shoes in place. disc brakes are less restrictive and lets the pad contact the rotor with the slightest pressure (no springs to overcome). so the metering valve "holds off" pressure from the front brakes untill the rear brakes overcome the springs. so all 4 wheels brake even. insted of the fronts locking up and the rears still overcoming the springs..

kinda hard to explain...

i doubt that's your problem
it sounds like you need a rear brake job
includeing hardwhare
and don't forget to grease the backing plate

 

I think it's the wheel cylinders.... the e-brake is pulled with the cable and is separate from the hydraulic system that pushes out the shoes i.e. the wheel cylinders. You said that the more you drive the more it locks out? That is probably because the more you tap the brakes and the fluid is pushing the cylinder out more.

 

who said anything about an e-brake????

 

He said it...."I can release the e-brake and push the car around"

 

ok i got ya
but that has nothing to do with his problem

i put my money... on the hardware being old as hell
spring tensions change once heat cycled for 10+ years
and if the springs are not strong enough to return the shoes to the stand by position than the brakes lock up
same thing if they get binded up on the backing plate

like i said check the wheel cylenders but def go ahead and pick up a hardware kit
it's like 10-15 bucks

 

How do you know that the front brakes are not also locking up?

If only the rears are locking then, one at a time, open the bleed valve for each wheel and have a buddy push the brake pedal as if you are bleeding the hydraulic system. Is fluid flow from the bleeder valve much more restricted for the rear wheels compared to the front wheels?

I also think suggestions in the post above should be looked into.

 

Thanks for all the replies...

I did bleed the brakes already with a buddy, but drove around for a few minutes and the brakes locked up again. I was assuming it was the rears but I may be wrong. It seems like the more I use the brakes the worse it gets.

If this only started after the swap was done, wont it have something to do with that?

 

nope
have you even pulled a wheel off?
whenever it's in "lock up" mode jack up each wheel to determin where your problem is

 

As mentioned, the first step to a solution is to know which specific wheel(s) is locking up.