Brake Repairs in Ermington

Ermington is a South Hams village in the River Erme valley, reached by narrow country roads and used by commuters heading for Ivybridge and Plymouth. Lanes and commuting together bring a mix of wear: frequent braking on bends, then steadier driving on the main road.

Our garage is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, where we repair brakes, suspension and steering. This page covers the symptoms and the work, in plain terms.

What do valley lanes do to a car?

Bends, junctions and oncoming traffic mean frequent braking, and uneven surfaces shake suspension parts. Over time that causes noisy pads, clunks and loose-feeling steering.

Noticing small changes early keeps repairs smaller, because a worn pad that is caught in time does not damage the disc.

At Automaster we start with the cause, and the repair follows once that is known.

Which symptoms point to brake trouble?

A squeal or grind, a soft pedal, pulling to one side, vibration through the pedal and an ABS warning light are the usual signs. A burning smell after braking is another.

If any of these appear, avoid long journeys until the car has been checked.

Also look out for a car that stops in a longer distance than it used to, a handbrake that pulls up higher than before, or tyres that squeal under gentle braking. None of these should be ignored on narrow roads where oncoming traffic can appear quickly.

• Squeal or grind
• Soft or sinking pedal
• Pull to one side
• ABS light on

What happens at the garage when brakes are repaired?

We inspect the whole system with the wheels off and replace worn pads, discs or other parts as needed. Suspension, shock absorbers, springs and wheel bearings are looked at too if the symptoms suggest them.

The quote depends on the car and the condition we find, so please describe the fault when you ask.

Pads and discs are the usual starting point, but callipers can seize if a car sits unused, and flexible hoses perish with age. Both are checked as part of the inspection, and if either needs replacing it is added to the quote.

Can commuters get steering faults fixed too?

Yes. Heavy or loose steering, power steering faults and uneven tyre wear are all checked. We look for the cause first, such as a worn joint, a failing pump or a suspension fault.

It is worth doing before a long commute, as steering that wanders is tiring and unsafe at speed.

Wheel bearings and suspension joints suffer on bumpy roads, and a worn track rod end or steering joint can make the car feel vague on the way into a bend. We check those as part of a steering inspection.

Do you cover Ermington?

Yes. Automaster serves drivers from Ermington, Ivybridge, Modbury, South Brent and Kingston at Longcombe Cross near Totnes.

Give your registration and symptoms when you ask for a quote, and say whether the problem shows up on lanes, on the main road or both.

If you are unsure whether a symptom is worth a call, ask anyway; a noise that comes and goes is still worth describing.