Caravan Brakes Squealing

[kenneth_374315528]

I have a Swift Challenger 480SE. When I start braking the brakes squeal like mad. I have had it into the workshops twice and they tell me all that is wrong is that the brake shoes are shiny and just need cleaning occasionally. Has nany body else had this problem. Would new brake shoes cure the problem and if so are they easy to replace DIY. Ken

 

[Rodone]

Hello Kenneth,

Yes, I have had the problem - for years on a Sterling (Swift Group) van. However as the offending items are Alko I suppose it is not Swifts fault.I had the shoes changed some years ago under warranty and that silenced them for about a year.( Aprox 1500 mixed miles) The noise is so bad now that I am thinking of paying to have them changed again.

 

[Damian]

Kenneth, the problem with modern brake shoes is the compound they are made of, which is much more prone to "dusting" and it is this dust which is causing your squealing.

The best way of dealing with it is for the drums to be removed, drums and shoes and all internal brake parts cleaned with brake cleaner, moving parts re greased where required, then re assembled.

The biggest problem to this is having to replace the one shot nuts on the Al-Ko system, as apart from sourcing the correct ones, you need a torque wrench capable of torquing up to 290nm +/- 10nm, and they are not cheap to buy for the number of times you would use it.

 

[kenneth_374315528]

Do you need all that equipment just to change the brake shoes?

 

[Lutz]

Kenneth, the problem with modern brake shoes is the compound they are made of, which is much more prone to "dusting" and it is this dust which is causing your squealing.

The best way of dealing with it is for the drums to be removed, drums and shoes and all internal brake parts cleaned with brake cleaner, moving parts re greased where required, then re assembled.

The biggest problem to this is having to replace the one shot nuts on the Al-Ko system, as apart from sourcing the correct ones, you need a torque wrench capable of torquing up to 290nm +/- 10nm, and they are not cheap to buy for the number of times you would use it.

I do suppose you mean 290Nm

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Kenneth,

"Do you need all that equipment just to change the brake shoes?"

Assuming you have a newish caravan, the only special piece of equipment will be the high range torque wrench for the one-use nuts. But it's an expensive torque wrench to buy.

If it's an older caravan, then you'll have a castellated nut and a discardable split pin.

But in both cases, you need to remove the brake drum to gain access - and that has consequences.

Robert

 

[kenneth_374315528]

Hi Robert. Just what do you mean by having consequences when removing the brake drums. Ken

 

[rob_jax]

The consequences:

If you have a newish caravan - then you the expense of the nut, torque wrench and socket to cover before you can complete the job.

With older caravans, then you need to understand how to fit a castellated nut and possibly repack the wheel bearing too

 

[Damian]

I do suppose you mean 290Nm

 

[Damian]

Another consequence to removing brake drums is the situation where the drum will not come off easily, so you should have a hub puller handy too!!

 

[Lutz]

If, as you say, the brake shoes are shiny, then they may be glazed as a result of substantial brake fade. If this is too severe, it would be well worth replacing the linings. Otherwise, braking performance will suffer and the towcar will have to do the braking for the whole outfit, without you perhaps even noticing it until it's too late.