Brake Repairs in Ringmore

Ringmore is a small coastal village where the lanes are narrow and walkers share the road with cars. Much of your driving is low speed with frequent stops, tight turns and the occasional reverse into a gateway. That sort of use is gentle in some ways but hard in others.

Our garage, Automaster, is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes. Drivers from Ringmore and nearby villages bring us petrol and diesel cars and vans for brake, suspension and steering repairs.

Can short, slow journeys really wear out brakes?

Yes. Lots of short trips mean brakes rarely get hot enough to clear surface rust and glaze, so discs can pit and pads can harden. Cars that sit unused for a while can develop corrosion that causes noise and judder when you start moving again.

A thin layer of rust on discs after rain is normal and clears in a few stops. Persistent grinding, a scraping sound, or a pedal pulsing under your foot is not normal and needs inspecting.

• Grinding that does not clear after a few stops
• Pedal pulsing or steering shaking
• Handbrake that feels loose or sticks
• A brake warning light on the dashboard

What should I expect from a brake inspection?

We look at pad thickness, disc condition, caliper movement, hose condition and brake fluid, and check the handbrake. If the car has been standing, we also check for seized parts.

Cost depends on the vehicle, the parts needed and the time access takes, so the right step is to ask for a quote and send your registration.

Why does my car clunk or wander on narrow lanes?

Frequent steering lock-to-lock manoeuvres wear track rod ends, ball joints and steering rack bushes. Knocking over small bumps is often a drop link or a suspension bush, while a car that wanders may point to worn steering parts or poor alignment.

Springs can also crack, especially on older cars, and a broken spring changes ride height and braking balance. We examine these items properly rather than guessing from a sound.

Where is the garage and do you cover Ringmore?

Yes, we cover Ringmore. Many of our visitors come from the lanes around Bigbury, Kingston, Bantham and Thurlestone, and the garage is at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, near Totnes, TQ9 6PL.

If you are unsure whether your car is safe to drive in, give us the symptoms when you ask for a quote and we will tell you what to do next.

What do wheel bearings and shock absorbers have to do with braking?

A worn wheel bearing can let the disc wobble slightly, causing vibration and uneven pad wear, and it often hums as speed rises. Worn shock absorbers let the tyre bounce off the road, which lengthens stopping distance and wears tyres unevenly.

Replacing them in pairs on the same axle is usual practice, because one new unit next to a tired one gives unbalanced handling.