Alko hitch noise

[Chadders]

Newbie here again and forgive me if this has been asked I have done a search not found exactly what I’m looking for.
How much noise is to much noise? Is some noise acceptable/normal? Our caravan is practically new therefore reasonable to assume the friction pads are all good the towball clean and shiny. However the creaking and knocking from the hitch is in my opinion! Very noisy and noticeable. I read one post where someone was advised that they had the wrong tower /ball for an Alko. I hope mine is ok only had it fitted recently it was recommended by the fitter and is a Brink. Thanks

 

[Andy Norfolk]

All I can say is ours has never been noisy. It's about 3 years old from new but is quiet. Have you checked the vehicle you tow with is ok for the weight of the caravan? Could you have overloaded the caravan or not distributed the weight correctly? Just some thoughts. Hope you get to the bottom of it.

 

[Martin_E]

If it’s a second hand van it could be the previous owner has contaminated the friction pads with say something like wd40 type spray

 

[Mr Plodd]

Regardless of the age of your caravan its entirely possible they have become glazed. I would advise you to give the side friction pads a "Going Over" with some fine abrasive and then a squirt of brake cleaner. If all then goes silent you know where the problem lies. Its a very simple DIY job to change the pads IF thats the problem, but they ain't cheap.

 

[Chadders]

All I can say is ours has never been noisy. It's about 3 years old from new but is quiet. Have you checked the vehicle you tow with is ok for the weight of the caravan? Could you have overloaded the caravan or not distributed the weight correctly? Just some thoughts. Hope you get to the bottom of it.

Yes the weight is ok around 90% we don’t overload there’s only 2 of probably the heaviest thing is the motor mover

 

[Mr Plodd]

If it’s a second hand van it could be the previous owner has contaminated the friction pads with say something like wd40 type spray

WD40 is a lubricant, so would prevent the pads gripping and creaking!

 

[Chadders]

If it’s a second hand van it could be the previous owner has contaminated the friction pads with say something like wd40 type spray

Actually I may have contaminated them 🙄 Ive remembered when I took the paint off the towball I did give it a squirt of wd40 I didn’t know this was a no no. How do you clean them in situ or have to remove them I guess it’s a case of lying underneath the hitch?

 

[otherclive]

You can check if your towball is Alko compatible as it should have a slightly longer neck than a standard hitch. I’d be surprised if yours wasn’t okay if the towbar/towball was supplied by a Brinks approved fitter. Here’s a picture showing the differences. The black one is Alko compatible.

 

[Mr Plodd]

You cannot clean them of contaminate as they are slightly porous, the only option is replacement

 

[Hutch]

Actually I may have contaminated them 🙄 Ive remembered when I took the paint off the towball I did give it a squirt of wd40 I didn’t know this was a no no. How do you clean them in situ or have to remove them I guess it’s a case of lying underneath the hitch?

Yes, you might have to get underneath and clean them, Brake cleaning fluid and and also a good wipe of the tow ball, as Mr Plod says, I wipe my pads every time out, it is ama how dirty the pads do get.

 

[Chadders]

You can check if your towball is Alko compatible as it should have a slightly longer neck than a standard hitch. I’d be surprised if yours wasn’t okay if the towbar/towball was supplied by a Brinks approved fitter. Here’s a picture showing the differences. The black one is Alko compatible.



View attachment 10296
View attachment 10297

I think it would be compatible for those who like a bit of hitch p**n I’ll post a pic when I get chance

 

[otherclive]

I think it would be compatible for those who like a bit of hitch p**n I’ll post a pic when I get chance

I just used to clean my hitch pads using a fine wet and dry, or a kitchen abrasive washing sponge then give a good squirt of brake cleaner. Alway before each trip.

 

[IanB1485]

Also make sure your tow ball is free of paint( they supply them new with paint on the ball).It should also be cleaned of rust /debris build up prior to hitching up each time. If it has been hitched whilst still having the paint on then the friction pads will need cleaning with 120 grit emery paper.

 

[Martin_E]

WD40 is a lubricant, so would prevent the pads gripping and creaking!

I know it’s a lubricant, I might look daft but I am not, and believe me, I know someone who used it, the result was very bad creaking, no amount of brake cleaner and cleaning the pads would stop it. The only thing that worked was new pads

 

[Jcloughie]

Some vans I have had have creaked loudly when first starting off, but quietened down after a quarter of a mile. It demonstrated to me that they were working. I did use brake cleaner as suggested above.

John

 

[otherclive]

I know it’s a lubricant, I might look daft but I am not, and believe me, I know someone who used it, the result was very bad creaking, no amount of brake cleaner and cleaning the pads would stop it. The only thing that worked was new pads

Gone are the days when brake shoes were boiled in water to remove any brake fluid that had leaked.

 

[Chadders]

I’ll try cleaning them before replacing. The noise does go after a few miles. As long as it’s not dangerous I’ll put up with it

 

[otherclive]

I’ll try cleaning them before replacing. The noise does go after a few miles. As long as it’s not dangerous I’ll put up with it

Just because the noise goes after cleaning that does not mean that the pads friction performance is working as it should, and you have no idea if the Alko stabiliser is working as it is designed to do. So since you put WD 40 on the towball the sensible thing is to replace the pads with new ones.

PS don’t buy cheap pads via ebay or others, use genuine Alko pads.