Creaking and Graunching on AlKo 2700 stabiliser hitch

[JohnI.Stephen]

Apologies for raisiong this again but I need to be 100% sure. We have a 100% dry and de-greased tow-ball (AlKo) but the NOISE that is generated we we turn corners and navigate bends is horrendous. We are seriously considering adding gease (perish the thought) in the conscious knowledge that whilst this will remove the stabliser qualities it will also ensure that the caravan is towed smoothly and quietly. Peopl look in dismay as we negotiate tight bends at slow speeds; it sounds as thought he caravan is about to come away from the tow bar; which of course it is not.

Is there any solution to thsi please?

 

[Maz_5041035]

Hi, I've had this problem. Try cleaning the inside of the stabaliser hitch as well as the tow ball head, this solved the problem for me. I used break cleaner and kitchen roll to clean but white spirit will do the job too. Also have alook at the tow ball is there any 'scoring' or scratch-like marks on it, this could indicate grit in the stabaliser head, cleaning as above should sort it.

 

[rob_jax]

John,

Do you have the ALKO 1300 or 2000 series? The reason I ask is that it's easy to get the pads out of the 2000 family, inspect, clean and refit. The 1300 will need new split rings if you take the pads out.

I'm betting your noise problem is caused by dirty pads. No noise when towing straight, increasing noise as the road surface becomes rougher, and worse in towns with tight corners and bad roads. Right? Clean the pads, resurface the cupped shape friction surface with a light rubbing of 200 grit sand paper, and clean again.

Robert

 

[JohnI.Stephen]

Robert :

All I know is that I have an Al-Ko 2700 stabiliser and yes the pads are easy to remove. I did so and asked the dealer for their view; they said they looked fine (but I have bought a psare paid anyway). Yes the noise is awfully LOUD on sharp turns at very slow speeds. On long straight roads it is silent. I am perefctly happy to change the pads for new ones if you think that's the issue!

 

[JohnI.Stephen]

Impressive respopnse from Al-Ko within 2 hours of seneding an email !

"Any noise from your stabiliser would indicate that the friction pads are becoming contaminated. By cleaning the pads surface with emery paper, then with a de-greasing solution, will help your situation. If all of the paint from the balls surface is not removed initially, you may be cross- contaminating the friction pads.

I certainly would not recommend that you apply any form of lubrication to the friction pad surface. This action would certainly stop the noise, but you must be aware that the stabilising effect will be practically non-existent.

"

 

[rob_jax]

John,

If you have a new set of pads, compare the surface colour and texture with what's in your stabiliser. Particularly the colour which clearly indicates contamination.

Just cleaning with sand paper worked for me, maintaining the cupped shape of the pad.

And you can do one more thing to help reduce or eliminate the noise. Did you ever service your own brakes on a car? and if so do you remember Copperslip? The steel pin on the back of the pad can use a small amount of Copperslip (or another highly viscous grease)to stop it vibrating in the ALKO mounting.

Don't get any grease or Copperslip on the pad surface! And you don't really need Copperslip - it's formulated for high temperature brake use - any thick grease will do the job.

Robert

 

[Royston]

John,

Hope the info from alko clears the problem.My thoughts where

have you got the alko long reach towball or swan neck, fitted, these are the only two types sutable when coupling with a alko stabiliser.

On page 116 this months Pratical caravan (November issue)fuller details regarding alko stabilisers.

Royston

 

[JohnI.Stephen]

Thanks All; I shall proceed with emery paper and some ear plugs !! John

 

[BigRoy]

John, I've mentioned this before on these forums dont use emery on friction pads as emery is impregnated with oil so you will contaminate your pads even more, use glass paper

 

[JohnI.Stephen]

Oh boy; OK 'glass paper' it is!!! Thanks !!

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I sent my pads back to Alko as they seemed crazed and they cleaned them up and returned them with the advice to clean with emery as they assumed I did before every trip!

The noise was so very loud that I changed the pads in France near to the Spanish border with about 100 miles to destination.

Since I acquired the second and less smoky X-Trail I have had no further problem.

The service Alko give either by E-Mail or post is excellent

 

[BigRoy]

Alko must have a very thorough de-greasing process if they use emery as it is well known that emery is oil based.

I think they are wrong advising their customers to use it as you would be surprised how much oil is in it ( have you ever noticed how oily your hands get when using it ) and the DIY'er would never be able to de-grease the pads as well as they do at the factory.

Use glass paper or wet and dry.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Alko must have a very thorough de-greasing process if they use emery as it is well known that emery is oil based.

I think they are wrong advising their customers to use it as you would be surprised how much oil is in it ( have you ever noticed how oily your hands get when using it ) and the DIY'er would never be able to de-grease the pads as well as they do at the factory.

Use glass paper or wet and dry.

Perhaps that's why it stops the noises !!! (winking eye icon)

Not doubting what you say about the oiliness but Alko keep giving this information out.

 

[JohnI.Stephen]

Am pleased to report that giving a good clean of the tow ball using glass paper before departure worked perfectly for 90% of a 350 miles journey. I think we have cracked it !!! Thanks

 

[rob_jax]

John,

Pleased it worked for you, just a word of caution - don't keep sanding the tow ball every time you go out. Now that it's clean, a wipe with white spirit (or brake cleaner, same effect but more expensive) should now maintain a clean tow ball.

Then clean the ALKO pads with a dry rag - not sure that the wet cleaning process is a good idea on the pad surface - but you may need to lightly clean the ALKO pads with sand paper if they become discoloured again.

Robert

 

[BigRoy]

Hi all, this is an update on my advise about using Emery on friction pads.

As you know I have expressed my concern regarding Alko's advise about using Emery to clean friction pads as Emery is quite oily.

Well it seems that "Emery" is no longer used in what we all know as Emery cloth, this is a copy of an email that I have received while doing some research into the matter (I must be getting old)

Dear Roy,

In reply to to your Email to Simon Copeman, he has asked me if I can reply

to on the make up of 'Emery' cloth. The cloth rolls we sell are no longer

made from emery, but are now aluminium oxide mounted onto a cloth

backing

with phenolic resin. There is no grease in any of our products and so they

would be suitable for cleaning brake pads.

In fact, abrasive belts are used for grinding the pads during the

manufacturing process so there is a precedent for their use in this area

already.

Best Regards

Nigel

Nigel Willcock

Technical Service Specialist

3M (United Kingdom) PLC

Ratcliffe Rd

Atherstone

Warwickshire

CV9 1 PJ

United Kingdom

so I stand corrected, Roy.

 

[john_5040735]

Very similar problem and noise would not go despite how much they were cleaned/degreased - even with emery paper. Only solution was new set -