i have a 98 civic lx and I just noticed that on my front passenger side that the inside of my rims is all greasy... Its coverd all over the inside of my rim.. My friend said its not the brake fluid(because it dosen't smell like it)... and my braking has gotten worse.. but then again i switched froms from Parada spec 2's to some cheap Falken's... but this liquid is only comming from that one conner.. its a brownish color and some what greasy.. and ideas on what it is?

 

torn CV boot. Check that black rubber thing behind the brake for tears and grease leaking out.

 

koo thanks, i'll check it this weekend probably.. but is there anything else i should kind of keep an eye out for, any other possibilities?

 

I'm 90% sure that you have a torn CV boot. That boot protects and keeps the CV joint full of lube. If the boot tears and most of the grease ends up in the wheelwell, that joint can get damaged from not having lubercation. I have 140K on my orignal CV boots and they are still holding on. Both of them have started to kinda crack but no grease has started to get out.

 

yup, cv boot.

Does your car make a clicky sound when you make hard turns? I bet it does.

 

couldn't it also be bearings? maybe bad seal?

 

no clicks or anything like that.. yet.. haha just the greasy stuff

 

Those CV joint are bitches

 

It could be a blow shock. They are filled with oil. Although, if you haven't noticed any noises from the shock its probably a cv boot.

 

man...the other day when i sat in your car i told you i heard something from the right front! haha late

 

are you sure it wasn't my sturt tower bar knocking on my intake box

 

cv boot mang...

 

i'm pretty sure it's the cv boot 99.99%.... jack up your car and take off the wheel and look at the axle (cv boot) i'm sure it's got a BIG hole in it now...

 

koo... but how would i know if i just need to replace the boot.. or the whole axel?

 

You don't! ...until you dismantle the CV joint & check for damage. The ***** & the surfaces they roll on get pitted. It depends on how long its been open & what kind of crud has gotten in there.

 

if it clicks when you turn then you need to change the whole axle if not then you don't... it's easier to change the whole axle but to save a lot of money you can change the boot... just be prepared to get REALLY greasy... let me know what happens

 

Yep, CV boot. I had the exact same thing happen on my car, but on the driver's side. Inside of the wheel and the fender well were covered with grease. The boot was ripped all the way around, in two pieces.

If it hasn't been like that long, your CV joint may be salvageable, but if you hear a clicking noise when you start with your wheels at full lock, then you're definately looking at replacing the axle. You can probably get refurbished ones for a decent price plus core charge of your old axle at Napa or something.

If it's just the boot and you think the joint is salvageable, go to napa or to the dealership and get the boot replacement kits for both sides, as well as the inner joints on both sides. Makes no sense not to replace these boots while you have everything apart, as your other boots are probably getting ready to let loose too if the one side already has.

[EDIT]: also, you'll have to empty out and replace your tranny fluid if you take the axles out. Rebuilding the CV joints and repacking with grease is much easier this way, so this is what I'd recommend.


[Modified by M-EJ1, 11:43 AM 3/10/2003]