From the main road to the canal locks, Hanwell drivers put their clutches through plenty of slow traffic, and we help them work out whether a repair is needed and what it involves.
Hanwell's Victorian and Edwardian terraces mean a lot of tight kerbside parking, hill starts by the viaduct and queues on the main road. All of that is work for the clutch pedal, and eventually it shows: a smell of burning when you set off, a pedal that feels vague, or a gear lever that fights you.
MTS Garage Services is a family-run independent garage in Hayes, working on cars and vans of any make. Bring the vehicle in and we will find the cause, tell you in plain language what it needs and give a clear estimate before any repair begins. Clutch kit replacement is only one possible answer, so we check first.
Start with how it behaves. Does the engine race when you press the accelerator but the car lags behind? That is slip. Does the car shake as you release the pedal on a hill start? That is judder, often from a glazed plate or an oil leak onto it. Is the biting point right at the top, or is first gear hard to find? Add a grinding or rattling sound with the pedal down or up, and you have a clear list to give us. Burning smells after a hard pull-away are worth mentioning too.
A clutch is a stack of parts: the friction plate that wears down, the pressure plate that clamps it, and the release bearing that pushes the pressure plate's fingers. Because the gearbox must come out to reach any of them, we renew the set together, so you are not paying for the same labour twice. The dual mass flywheel, where fitted, is measured and inspected as well. If it is worn, replacing it with the clutch is sensible, since a tired one will shorten the new clutch's life. We show you what we found.
A pedal that drops slowly to the floor, feels spongy or leaves the clutch stuck engaged often points to hydraulics. Fluid can leak from the master cylinder behind the pedal or from the slave cylinder on the gearbox, and low fluid means the clutch will not fully release. We check the fluid, look for leaks and test the pipework before suggesting a clutch master cylinder replacement or a slave cylinder replacement. Sometimes it is a cable, a pedal fitting or simply air in the system, so we work through the possibilities rather than guessing.
Hanwell is a neighbourhood known for the flight of locks on the Grand Union Canal and the railway viaduct. We cover Hanwell and regularly speak with drivers in Southall, Greenford, Osterley and Hounslow as well as those closer to Hayes. If the clutch is already slipping badly, give us a call before you drive over so we can talk through whether it is safe to bring it in, or whether another arrangement makes more sense.
We also help drivers with clutch replacement from nearby Southall, Greenford, Osterley, Hounslow, and the garage in Hayes is the base for all of it.
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A burning smell usually means the friction plate is slipping and overheating, often after a hill start or a heavy pull-away. Occasional use under strain can cause it, but if it happens often, the clutch is probably worn and should be inspected.
Not always. Cars with a dual mass flywheel may need it replaced if it shows excess play, noise or heat damage. We measure and inspect it while the gearbox is out and explain whether it should be renewed.
It depends on the model and what we find once the gearbox is out, so we do not promise a fixed time. We give you a realistic idea when we give the estimate and update you if anything changes.
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Prefer to talk? Call 0208 843 9091. Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8:30AM - 5:30PM, Saturday 9:00AM - 1:00PM, Sunday closed.
MTS Garage Services, 5 Chesterfield Way, Hayes, Middlesex, UB3 3NW