Clutch Repairs Edinburgh Suggestions

mpgscott

Active Member
Nov 11, 2009
56
2
Inverness/Aberdeen
Hi Folks,

Anyone recomend a decent garage or mechanic in or around Edinburgh to repair my clutch? Likely the slave cylinder needing replaced so if its out might get the clutch changed as well.

Cheers for help as normal
Mark
 

Seastormer

Cupra Leon VZ2 300/CBF1000
Apr 25, 2014
5,007
693
68
Edinburgh (Scotland)
Hi Folks,

Anyone recomend a decent garage or mechanic in or around Edinburgh to repair my clutch? Likely the slave cylinder needing replaced so if its out might get the clutch changed as well.

Cheers for help as normal
Mark
Billy MacLeod at the Arcari's Ice Cream factory on the Wisp Edin (he operates out of the garage at the back) looked after my van and cars for years, great mechanic and very reasonable too. 07759495065 or 01316695937 (Factory and ask to get put thru to Billy)
 

Crossthreaded

Active Member
Apr 16, 2019
536
145
Sorry for not replying earlier. I've been deeply into my Fiat "stuff" lately and haven't been on here for a while. Been a bit worried about my laptop too as I thought I might have some malware on it but I think I'm probably ok? I hope, fingers crossed! Going to order some Fiat stuff from Shop4parts (my preferred supplier of all parts Fiat) on line in the next few days so if my bank account gets cleaned out I suppose I'll know I'm not! (ok that is)

Anyway, although I look after the "Family fleet" for all the simpler repairs and servicing if something beyond me comes up with a VAG product I go to AVW Autocentre on the south side at 405 Gilmerton road. (opposite the Aldi) They are an independent Audi/VAG specialist and have done work on my older boy's Fabia Scout 1.9tdi very much to our satisfaction and much more cheaply than the main agent. (Big plus for me too is that you can discuss the whole thing with a "spanner wielder" who knows what he's talking about - can't do that at the flashy main dealer can you). When my younger boy's Escort ran a front wheel bearing I stripped out the hub and took it in to them. They removed the old bearing and pressed in the new one for me - the charge was very reasonable indeed. Definitely good people to know. My 2016 Ibiza ST will be going there if I run into something I can't manage. In fact as I'm not too sure if the Ibiza is going to be a "keeper" I may just let them do the servicing too so I've got a book full of stamps if I decide to sell. I've also had very useful technical advise (especially when I was having annoyingly intermittent starting problems with my old 1.9 tdi Cordoba Vario. Turned out to be the notorious 109 relay, just as they said it would be!)

As I mentioned above I'm also into Fiats (Puntos and Pandas). I'm old and a bit "creaky" so lifting gearboxes in and out, or conducting other heavy weight operations, on my driveway is becoming a bit difficult for me. I live in the north of the city not far from the docks and I use Kenny Harrisons garage at 74 Jane Street (on the trading estate). He put a clutch in the Panda for me last year and sorted out the hydraulics at the same time. He made a lovely job of it. I've spoken with him a lot and with other staff and been very impressed. Good honest down to earth, no fancy polished floors here, type family garage. Although they specialize in Fiat/Alfa stuff there is always a wide range of vehicles being worked on when I've been there.

Sorry if this is a little bit late for you mpg, but perhaps it'll be of use to others.
 
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Crossthreaded

Active Member
Apr 16, 2019
536
145
Just a wee update on Harrison's garage which I think is worth mentioning. The Panda blew out a front strut a couple of weeks ago in a most spectacular, oil pumping, unlady like display. She blew the seal right out of the top of the strut and sprayed most of the contents of the strut under the wing - helped on it's way by the speed bumps on our road! (good for rust suppression I suppose!) At 60,000 plus miles everything - struts, springs, top mounts, etc, were well past their best so I spent last week rebuilding the lot. (and swelling the coffers of Shop4parts). When I'd finished I gave her a bit of an in depth check over and found the N/S/R wheel cylinder to have one slightly sticking piston and both rear cylinders showing early signs of weepy seals, so 2 cylinders needed. I've owned a number of older Pandas but this is the first 169 model so I was unaware, until I was looking at changing the cylinders, that one of the retailing screws on each side is partially occluded by the hub so you can only get an open ended spanner on it and they look very rusty - I'd bet on them being siezed. I could strip the whole thing down and remove the back plate to gain access but I'd rather not so I decided to pop along and ask the lads at Harrisons how they would do it. I was received in a very friendly manner being greeted by my first name as I walked in the door. The owners son and one of the mechanics got involved in the conversation and some very useful suggestions were made. As I was leaving - in fact I was maybe 50 yards away - the mechanic ran after me and said "would you like a couple of the short fixing screws?" Well, as there has to be a good chance of some of them snapping off I was delighted. Followed him back into the workshop where he gifted me a couple of the screws and refused payment. I think this is quite exceptional service. Yes they fitted a clutch for me about a year ago but they know I'm doing most of my own repairs and all maintenance so they are only likely to make MOT money off me. These are just a bunch of thoroughly nice blokes and competent motor engineers. I'm just so glad I've stumbled across them. The Ibiza will definitely be going there for her MOT.
 
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