Very strange braking issue (91 civic)

[KidKoala]

Hi Guys

I purchased a '91 Civic 16v at the weekend, which I believe has the same front end as the CR-X. I know there's alot of knowledgeable chaps on here, so thought I would run this one past you guys.

When braking from reasonably high speeds (70MPH +) the car pulls fairly hard to the left. The affect of this is more severe the faster you go.

If you brake from 30MPH, with no hands on the wheel, it glides perfectly straight.

If you brake hard and lock the wheels up at 30MPH, only one wheel tends to lock up instead of both...

I booked the car into a local garage and they examined it today, they said everything looks perfect and they can't get it up to 60MPH on the ramps, they did a brake test and it was spot on... They couldn't get the car up to 60MPH as it's in a City...

They suggested that my only real option now is for them to start replacing things bit by bit until the car stops swerving...

I also told them that there is a strange knocking/grating noise when taking hard right handers coming from the N/S Front wheel, but they said everything looks in order unless it's a driveshaft issue...

I'm not in a position to have everything replaced, as the car's only done 60k and I'm sure this must be something simple...

Has anyone got any other suggestions, or should I book the car into another garage for a 2nd opinion? I don't really have time to start taking the car to pieces my self, so if anyone could reccomend a better garage in Bristol who are familiar with these cars then that would be great.

If anyone has any idea what might be causing the issue, that would also be great! Would a slipping driveshaft or a dodgy caliper on the near side make it pull to the left?

Thanks for any help Smile I'm running out of patience now.

Cheers,

Con

[Holst]

Do you have ABS?

Does this still happen under emergency braking from 30mph?

The knocking issue is probably a CV joint, but that shouldnt cause problems under braking unless your engine braking. You can get joints cheap on ebay, so this wont be a hard fix.

Back to the braking problem.

There are plenty of things that might cause this.

How much is left on the front brake pads.. is there more left on one side than the other?
If the pads are worn (even if there is some left) I would replace them.. on a civic they are easy to change and cheap.

I would also change the brake fluid (unless you have service history to confirm it was recently changed)

My first thoughts would be that there is a problem with the right brakes.. so your only getting brakes on the left and its pulling that way.

After driving feel the wheels and see if one wheel is warmer than the other.. if the wheels are cold feel the disks, but dont burn your finger is one side hotter than the other?

If one brake isnt working properly then it might be a ceased caliper, changing the pads might free it up.. but the calipers might need a rebuild.

It might also be caused by warn bushes, or other suspension problems, but I would expect a decent garage to spot it.

Do you have rear disks as well?
Prelude rear calipers are well known for ceasing up.. and I think civic ones are similar.. so check those as well.. replace pads if necicary.

Edited by Holst on Wednesday 6th February 17:46

[KidKoala]

Hi

No ABS

Doesn't pull to the side when braking from 30MPH, but one wheel does lock up before the other one.

The front brake pads were replaced recently.

Yeah there are rear disks, but most the effort is surely on the front?

[Holst]

KidKoala said:

Hi

No ABS

Doesn't pull to the side when braking from 30MPH, but one wheel does lock up before the other one.

The front brake pads were replaced recently.

Yeah there are rear disks, but most the effort is surely on the front?

I doubt the rear disks are relavent..

Did the garage test your brakes (like they do in the MOT) can they not find a fault?

Are the tires the same either side and at the correct pressures?

If one side is locking up first then it almost definately means that there is a problem with the other side..
A good garage should be able to find it IMO, its difficult to advise on the internet.

Did you have this problem before the pads were changed?
Did they change the brake fluid and check the disks?

Disk brakes are not all that complicated on a civic, and it shouldnt cost alot to get it fixed.

[rdodger]

I had a similar problem on a volvo v40 (don't ask lol) It turned out that the caliper was sticking slightly thus heating the disc at motorway speeds enough to give uneven braking from high speeds. Easy enough to check, just touch the disc after a high speed run, if it melts your finger then you need a new caliper :-)

[KidKoala]

Holst said:

I doubt the rear disks are relavent..

Did the garage test your brakes (like they do in the MOT) can they not find a fault?

Are the tires the same either side and at the correct pressures?

If one side is locking up first then it almost definately means that there is a problem with the other side..
A good garage should be able to find it IMO, its difficult to advise on the internet.

Did you have this problem before the pads were changed?
Did they change the brake fluid and check the disks?

Disk brakes are not all that complicated on a civic, and it shouldnt cost alot to get it fixed.

The garage did do a brake test and said that it was fine...

The first thing I checked was the tyre pressures, and yes the tyres are the same both sides..

I've only just bought the car, don't know the history of the problem.

One thing that occured to me is braking from low speeds, one side seemed to lock up before the other but I swear on one occasion it was the right that locked up first instead of the left...I could be wrong though. I might go out in a bit and do some brake testing from 30MPH and see if one wheel consistently locks up.