Creaking Noise

[Gagakev]

Got back today and had a serious creaking noise from the tow hitch area, stopped to check and found no obvious explaination.
Driving in a straight line no noise but as soon as you turned the wheel it was really loud.
One theory I have is; the night before I cleaned the tow ball with fine emery paper and a scourer pad (surface rust on the ball due to heavy rain-- I didnt put the cover on after un-hitching) BUT I got side tracked and did not spray the ball with break cleaner, and also hitched up this morning without spraying it.
So the question is would this give a very loud creaking noise ?
Should I now replace the friction pads?
Is it this easy replacing friction pads.
Or can anyone suggest another reason for my creak?

 

[Damian]

It is more than likely it is just dirt which requires a thorough clean of the towball and hitch head.

It takes a lot of contamination to require new pads, just a rub over with emery and a good soaking with brake cleaner.

 

[Sproket]

It sounds like you have got some gunge on the pads, more than likely from the diesel fumes, give them a good clean with some fine emmery & clean them off with loads of brake cleaner.........

Hook the van back on & take it for a short tow, if it still does it try lifting the stabiliser up to confirm that it is the pads & nothing else

 

[Gagakev]

Thanks Damien and Sprocket,
Sprayed them on un hitching today and will give all a good clean tomorrow and as it needs to go to storage shortly (new drive being installed) that will give it the test Sprocket suggest, thanks again