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So, I bought a rebuilt trans and new clutch for my 98 civic, d16y7, due to my clutch slipping bad and a worsening howling grinding noise. After realizing the clutch is still great, but covered in fluid, I'm 99% sure it is from the trans, I inspected further and there is almost a quarter inch of horizontal play in the input shaft, is this problem common?

 
Rep Power: 187

ouch. ive heard of that happening but not sure what causes it or how common it is. my guess is letting the trans hang with the splines inside the clutch before whoever bolted it up. im actually in the process of bolting mine back up in my 99. getting those splines lined back up is a huge pita without a nice transmission jack.

and what does the fluid look like?? take your flywheel off and check the rear main seal. most likely the fluid is from the trans but ur technically suposed to check the rear main anytime u pull the trans according to my manual. i pulled the trans from my 2000 ex and found oil EVERYWHERE but it didnt have any clutch issues.

side note. i hope you got a d16y8 trans to replace it with. gears are closer but if ur not worried about it to each his own.

 
Rep Power: 187

idk why i couldnt think of it 10 minutes ago. but sounds like your input shaft bearing is toast.

still check the rear main. the last thing u want is a leaking d series

 
Rep Power: 199

somwhere in this forum i post up about my tranny pulled apart,
it could be tranny fluid leaking out from the main shaft,
if the bearings broke it can cause leakage also there is a spring washer and a regular washer thats in between the main shaft and the bearings.
i say if theres alot of play in the tranny take it off apart and inspec it