I assume this is normal as the ball is dry but just wanted to check.....It was quite disturbing when you tow for the first time with the windows down as we did on our maiden voyage at the weekend...cheers
Groaning noises when towing and cornering!
- Thread starter HomerMarge
- Start date
Either grin and bear it (it sounds bad but does no real harm) and the noise will go away on its own once the ball is run in or go over the ball with fine emery paper to clean it of rust or paint before hitching up.
Seem to be missing the top of your posting, so what follows may be totally off the point. If you have a friction type stabiliser - particulalry the type which attaches to the side of the drawbar rather than the hitch, creaking and groaning is quite normal. Perhaps your car has good sound insulation and you didn't hear this previously with the windows closed. Next time you are on a site, just listen to the "new arrivals" as they drive round the site - you will probably her what I mean.
If you have an AL-KO stabiliser then the noise is quite common, but isn't "normal".
Your friction pads are probably contaminated with oil or grease. You can either remove them and try and clean them up with emery cloth or replace them.
It's also very important to remove the black paint from the AL-KO extended neck towball before hitching up for the first time. The paint is only there to protect the ball pior to fitting. If the paint is left on the ball then this will also contaminate the friction pads.
I also try to remember to clean my towball with white spirit before I hitch up. As I have a diesel car the towball can get quite oily from the exhaust fumes.
Hope this helps.
Your friction pads are probably contaminated with oil or grease. You can either remove them and try and clean them up with emery cloth or replace them.
It's also very important to remove the black paint from the AL-KO extended neck towball before hitching up for the first time. The paint is only there to protect the ball pior to fitting. If the paint is left on the ball then this will also contaminate the friction pads.
I also try to remember to clean my towball with white spirit before I hitch up. As I have a diesel car the towball can get quite oily from the exhaust fumes.
Hope this helps.
I agree totally with Mark on his comments.
I purchased a caravan recently and had a new Alko towball fitted to my car. When towing for the first time, fortunately to the caravan dealer, i had same noises. My wife had kittens thinking something was seriously wrong. Only occurred when deviating from straight.
Got to caravan dealer who rubbed down the tow bar ad lo and behold problem disappeared. I now carry around some wire wool and regularly rub down the tow ball to remove rust etc.
Hope this helps.
I purchased a caravan recently and had a new Alko towball fitted to my car. When towing for the first time, fortunately to the caravan dealer, i had same noises. My wife had kittens thinking something was seriously wrong. Only occurred when deviating from straight.
Got to caravan dealer who rubbed down the tow bar ad lo and behold problem disappeared. I now carry around some wire wool and regularly rub down the tow ball to remove rust etc.
Hope this helps.
Hi Steve and Mark
It is an Alko tow hitch. The towbar is new and the dealer fitted a new Alko towball that already had the paint removed, so this is a nice, clean unused ball with no surface rust etc. The caravan is new to us, but a second hand van (2004), it was serviced by the dealer before we picked it up a couple of weeks ago, should they of checked the friction pads as part of the service? It sounds as if the problem can only be contamination to the friction pads from what you are both saying? Are these easy to change, should I perhaps get the dealer to do them? Thanks
It is an Alko tow hitch. The towbar is new and the dealer fitted a new Alko towball that already had the paint removed, so this is a nice, clean unused ball with no surface rust etc. The caravan is new to us, but a second hand van (2004), it was serviced by the dealer before we picked it up a couple of weeks ago, should they of checked the friction pads as part of the service? It sounds as if the problem can only be contamination to the friction pads from what you are both saying? Are these easy to change, should I perhaps get the dealer to do them? Thanks
Hi
I had the same problem tried everything, best I found was brake cleaner that lasted for a few miles then back came the groaning.
I now have a winterhoff NO noise at all and I have a diesel car even though I do not believe that the diesel exhaust is the issue as I had wrapped my hitch system in a bag and taped it up so no contamination could get at it after only 5 seconds it was moaning away,change it for the winterhoff if you can it's much better than the alko.
I had the same problem tried everything, best I found was brake cleaner that lasted for a few miles then back came the groaning.
I now have a winterhoff NO noise at all and I have a diesel car even though I do not believe that the diesel exhaust is the issue as I had wrapped my hitch system in a bag and taped it up so no contamination could get at it after only 5 seconds it was moaning away,change it for the winterhoff if you can it's much better than the alko.
Hi Paul and Ruth,
It does sound like you need to change the friction pads. I don't expect that your dealer will have done this as part of the annual service. The pads cost around
It does sound like you need to change the friction pads. I don't expect that your dealer will have done this as part of the annual service. The pads cost around
The solution, according to AlKo themselves, is to simply wipe the pads and tow-ball with brake shoe cleaner (I use methylated spirits). I do this regularly and never have creaks and groans, and I assume the pads are operating more effectively as well. Changing the pads is a last resort for very seriously contaminated pads, again according to AlKo who sent me a set of pads gratis when I enquired about this problem. After two years I still haven't needed to fit them. Common causes of contamination are (a) a careless dealer who tows your van with a greasy hitch and (b) diesel exhaust fumes.
Hi Paul & Ruth
We had a simular problem of our new van groaning at every movement on its maiden voyage down to Spain. Ours was fitted with a Winterhof friction tow hitch. On a groaning arrival fellow CCC rally members came over after hearing us creak to our pitch. The simple answer was - fine emery paper to the tow ball and remove the Cadmium Plating + a quick rub of the friction plates within the hitch. Ours has not returned since.
Hope this is of help also.
Kev...
We had a simular problem of our new van groaning at every movement on its maiden voyage down to Spain. Ours was fitted with a Winterhof friction tow hitch. On a groaning arrival fellow CCC rally members came over after hearing us creak to our pitch. The simple answer was - fine emery paper to the tow ball and remove the Cadmium Plating + a quick rub of the friction plates within the hitch. Ours has not returned since.
Hope this is of help also.
Kev...
Hi mark
I have brand new alko just fitted ,and towbar newly fitted on car! pad indicators show they are brand new,could this be whats making mine creak and groan??? does it just need time to wear in,am sure the pads dont need replacing.
The answer is simple - clean the ball and pads regularly with methylated spirits and you will have no more problems! I can guarantee this will work.
Do you have a bumper protector plate fitted to your towbar?
If so, have a look to see if your hitch is catching it when cornering! (especially if you have a stabiliser fitted)
I'm brand new to caravaning & experienced this when toeing my caravan home just after purchasing it, & I just had a brand new towbar & bumper proctor fitted, so it showed all the scrapes on the protector plate!
If so, have a look to see if your hitch is catching it when cornering! (especially if you have a stabiliser fitted)
I'm brand new to caravaning & experienced this when toeing my caravan home just after purchasing it, & I just had a brand new towbar & bumper proctor fitted, so it showed all the scrapes on the protector plate!
Hi Tina,
The pads do not need any time to wear in. Was the black paint fully removed from the towball before use?
This was the exact problem I had. I bought a brand new van with an AL-KO 2004 and the retailer fitted the extended neck towball for me when I collected the van. Unfortunately they only made a half hearted attempt at removing the paint and subsequently I contaminated the pads on the first outing.
I would check that the paint is completely removed and the ball is grease free each time you hitch up. If your pads are new then you should be able to clean them up with some emery cloth.
Mark.
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