Rep Power: 0

Hey All,

It has indeed been a rough week for the civic... Last weekend after going for a drive (which was uneventful as far as the car was concerned), I parked, and when I went to back out, I had no reverse... Felt like there was a "wall" blocking me from shifting it into place. 1-5 were fine. Over the next few days, I noticed that if I just barely engaged the clutch, that I could shift into reverse, but there was some resistance. As of Wednesday, I could shift it in without engaging the clutch... Obviously still a problem, but the car was drivable.

Tonight, I noticed that when I came to a stop, there was a strange almost grinding noise that stopped as soon as the car was no longer moving, started again for a second when I took off. I wasn't somewhere I could pull over, so I limped it along til I got to a well lit street with parking, and by the time I did, the front right rotor was glowing red, and smoke was pouring off the pad... Needless to say, the car came home on a dolly tonight.

I can't help but think it's more than a coincidence, but I can't for the life of me figure out how the two could possibly be related.

Oh, and over the last week, the inside half of the tire tread on the front right has completely worn down and is now bald. I noticed that as I was examining the brakes tonight trying to figure out wth made them seize up.

Any thoughts??

proto

 
Rep Power: 233

Burning rotor is a stuck brake caliper. Rebuild or buy a new one.

For the tire tread to wear like that you have serious camber issues. If it's only on that side it's probably a blown strut. If it's both sides and/or the back it's your stock springs sagging (OEM being notoriously weak). If it's all of them then you can get camber kits (bolts for the front and adjustable upper arms for the back) or get aftermarket suspension. If you go aftermarket it's gonna come with a drop and your still gonna need camber kits. If it's just the one side go ahead and replace both sides. When you replace one side it puts undue pressure on the other side and makes it wear out quicker, plus it will affect handling.

As to the clutch: Is it only reverse your having trouble with? Does the clutch engage right (soft, hard, have to double pump it, etc)?

 
Rep Power: 0

Hey Lazlong,

All gears but reverse are fine. About 20k miles ago, I had a new transmission, clutch, front shocks, and new front breaks put in, all by a very highly recommended and quite reputible shop in my area. The car was alligned at the same time since they did the front shocks. Other than the shocks (KYB AGX), the rest of the suspension is stock. I picked up a nail in one of my tires a month ago, and the shop that fixed my flat rotated my tires for me at the same time, and there was no sign of wear or misalignment then, so whatever happened, came on quickly.

Thanks for your help,
proto

 
Rep Power: 0

Oh, and the clutch feels fine, no slippage, don't have to pump it at all... shifts like it always has, save for reverse.

proto

 
Rep Power: 233

Take it back and tell them to fix the tranny right. Reputable place will have a warranty.

May have a bent suspension component. Did you hit anything recently? An alignment will tell any mechanic worth his salt whats wrong.

 
Rep Power: 187

Sounds to me like 3 different problems. Caliper hung up, badly bent or broken suspension, and reverse gear or perhaps the linkage.

 
Rep Power: 0

Lazlong,

Haven't hit anything. I guess I'll put it in the air and replace the calliper, pads, and rotor on that side then take it in for an alignment and see what they have to say.

Thanks!

proto