Garage Services

Brakes


At PMC of Pinner we offer free brake checks, so if suspect that you have a problem with your brakes, don’t delay and check them out straight away. We can give you free advice about the condition of your brakes and other related parts.

There is no compromise with brake safety and we are specialists in this segment. We use all leading manufacturers, Delphi Lockheed, Mintex, Lucas, Brake Engineering and ATE and all our brake work is fully guaranteed for 12 months or 12000 miles.

Braking issues relate to common servicing items such as brake pads, shoes, discs or drums. If you see your brake warning light come on your dashboard, do not continue to drive the vehicle. Never compromise your safety or the safety of other road users.

Check your brake fluid levels urgently or let us take a look. Call PMC of Pinner on 020 8868 0088.

Clutches

The amount of wear on your clutch depends on a number of things such as the number of journeys you make, how often and on the way the car is driven. Therefore, there is no recommended replacement time for a clutch.

Signs that your clutch is worn and needs replacing will be seen when it begins to slip, when you are driving up hill. This is noticeable as even though the engine is revving the car is not going any faster. Changing gears is another problem you may experience.

We offer a range of high quality new clutches from Europe’s leading clutch manufacturers, Valeo, LUK and Sachs. Unlike some other clutch fitting companies, we employ qualified technicians so a proficient person carries out this complex task that involves extensive stripping down of engine and gearbox components.

At PMC of Pinner, we offer a free clutch check, so we can quickly let you know whether you need to replace it or not. We will do everything we can to ensure that you are back on the road in no time at all. If you think your clutch is slipping, call us today on 020 8868 0088 to book your car in.

An example of some common clutch faults is listed below.

  • SLIP
  • Caused by oil on the friction plate or worn friction plate, the symptoms of clutch slip would be partial or total loss of drive, vehicle speed lower than normal compared with engine speed.
  • DRAG
  • Clutch cable not at correct adjustment or centre plate sticking on spline. The symptoms of this would be difficulty in obtaining gear, particularly first and reverse gears.
  • JUDDER
  • Caused by warped friction plate or engine / gearbox mounts broken. The symptoms of this would be a shudder and vibration as vehicle moves off from stationary.


For a quick quote call us on 020 8868 0088

Steering

The steering system on every car is very important and requires regular maintenance to keep it at an optimum standard. The steering rack on all motor vehicles is easily knocked out of alignment by all the speed humps and potholes in the road. When the wheel alignment becomes out of tolerance the tyres will wear unevenly on either edge of the sidewalls.

Noticeable signs of wheel imbalance to look out for are:

  • Steering wheel is off-set when the vehicle is travelling in a straight line
  • The vehicle may drift/pull to the left or right
  • The front tyres will wear bald or show signs of uneven wear on either edge

If any of these faults are present on your vehicle we strongly recommend you have your wheel alignment checked and adjusted if necessary, as soon as possible.

At PMC we can prolong the life of your tyres with a free wheel alignment check and regular servicing. Our highly trained technicians can be of assistance to advise you of the best solution for any steering problems.

Suspension

The suspension system is a vital part of a vehicle; it has a direct impact on the steering, road holding and braking capabilities of the car.

On the suspension system there are many moving parts, the main component of which is rubber that can dry out over a period of time and can crack and perish. In the worst situation the rubber components can split. You may be able to recognise when a component has become defective, some of the effects could be:

  • When pulling away from a standstill a knocking noise may occur from the front of the vehicle.
  • When travelling along uneven surfaces, i.e. speed humps or bumpy roads, once again a knocking noise may be heard from either end of the vehicle and the ride in the vehicle may be an uncomfortable one.
  • On a straight road, i.e. a motorway, if one side at the front of the vehicle there is a defective component, the vehicle will drift or pull to the defective side. An important part of the suspension is the shock absorbers, these are usually hydraulic or gas filled. They are essential to control the bounce on the vehicle and to ensure the tyres are kept firmly on the road. Damaged and worn shock absorbers can reduce the braking efficiency, cause poor cornering and tyre wears.

It is very important to have regular checks on your vehicle, whether it is every 6 or 12 months, to ensure that the ride comfort and suspension system are kept at an optimum level. The suspension system is fully checked over as part of our routine servicing to make sure that you remain as safe and comfortable as possible. With all our technicians being highly trained and fully experienced you can rest assured that you and your vehicle are in safe hands.

Free suspension checks and advice are available from our trained technicians, just call 020 8868 0088

Timing Belt

When is your timing belt due?

When it comes to servicing your car your timing belt/cambelt replacement is by far the most important serviceable component of your car’s engine. The timing belt/cambelt has an incredibly important job controlling the camshafts in the engine and keeps it running smoothly, if left unchanged and it breaks, repairs to your vehicle will be costly.

As a responsible car owner it is important that you know the change interval of your timing belt/cambelt. Going over the manufacturers’ recommendation can lead to a slipped or snapped belt. In many cases this requires a new engine or engine build costing hundreds if not thousands of pounds.