How long before Alko Friction Pads need changing?

[Sam Vimes]

I started this thread and then added a Fred Drift about motorcyclists.

Then along came Fred Drift 2 in which we discussed Fred Drift 1.

It's raining here....Fred Drift 3😁

 

[JRT]

Could it tell if one pad has cracked or broken... I don't know 🙄

That would require a visual inspection which can be achieved by tapping the side ones out. The front to back ones seem to drop out if damaged rather than simply worn.

As to accuracy - I haven't seen any suggestions that the method approved by Alko has proven to be inaccurate for either the front/rear pads nor the sides. Somebody else may know different.

 

[Martin_E]

Yes I was aware of there being some indication but I'm not sure how accurate thus is. Could it tell if one pad has cracked or broken... I don't know 🙄

Only if you take the pads out will you know if it’s cracked, as for how accurate AlKo don’t go for mm accuracy, if it’s near the worn out end of the scale then it’s a change it job, although you could re-shim the pads, but this can lead to the friction pad falling off the resting peg/shaft

 

[Ferrodo]

Wouldn’t take much notice of the wear indicator markings ….. they disappear after time anyway.

 

[Martin_E]

Wouldn’t take much notice of the wear indicator markings ….. they disappear after time anyway.

They do on the new style, the old red ones last for ever

 

[JRT]

Wouldn’t take much notice of the wear indicator markings ….. they disappear after time anyway.

Mine haven't.

2018 Swift.

 

[trevormonty]

On first caravan I replaced pads because of grinding noise when doing tight corners. Noise was still there with new pads and on 2nd caravan.

Worth protecting towball with a cover when not in use to slow rust. My car has removeable hitch so just detach when not in use.

 

[Sam Vimes]

I got some spray yesterday and cleaned the tow ball with emery cloth then sprayed it this morning. Also sprayed the Alko hitch.

No graunching noise at all on journey home. So all quiet on the Alko front.

Is the spray any good for knees🙂?

 

[otherclive]

I got some spray yesterday and cleaned the tow ball with emery cloth then sprayed it this morning. Also sprayed the Alko hitch.

No graunching noise at all on journey home. So all quiet on the Alko front.

Is the spray any good for knees🙂?

A good outcome. You can now bin the earplugs.

 

[Buckman]

The truck used to tow our caravan off site was brand new with 7 pin connection and a brand new towball with the paint still intact. Probably need to change the friction pads before using the caravan again.

 

[otherclive]

That’s prett

The truck used to tow our caravan off site was brand new with 7 pin connection and a brand new towball with the paint still intact. Probably need to change the friction pads before using the caravan again.

Thats pretty unprofessional practice. Mayday should be told about it. Not everyone would be aware of potentially detrimental effects on the pads.

 

[Buckman]

That’s prett



Thats pretty unprofessional practice. Mayday should be told about it. Not everyone would be aware of potentially detrimental effects on the pads.

I did point it out to him and he was not aware of the issue however he did say he would make a note of it to make sure that the towbal was sanded down.

 

[otherclive]

I did point it out to him and he was not aware of the issue however he did say he would make a note of it to make sure that the towbal was sanded down.

I’m sure you will also get a survey in the near future. You get them for everything these days.

 

[Martin_E]

The truck used to tow our caravan off site was brand new with 7 pin connection and a brand new towball with the paint still intact. Probably need to change the friction pads before using the caravan again.

Just clean them, they will be fine

 

[ProfJohnL]

Reverting to th eorigional question:

Approximately how long, perhaps in miles of towing, before the Alko Friction Pads should need changing.

Its an impossible question to answer, The pads will need changing when they have worn down to the point where they're about to loose effectiveness.

The normal way for th euser to check user is a visual inspection. The pads function and availability is very much akin to seat belts, no one should need them until they do need them. and until that rare situation arrises you won't know if they are working correctly.

 

[otherclive]

It is your stabiliser head not hitchlock in your photo.

 

[breeze1470]

It is your stabiliser head not hitchlock in your photo.

yes sorry my heads off track today

 

[Sam Vimes]

Reverting to th eorigional question:

Its an impossible question to answer, The pads will need changing when they have worn down to the point where they're about to loose effectiveness.

The normal way for th euser to check user is a visual inspection. The pads function and availability is very much akin to seat belts, no one should need them until they do need them. and until that rare situation arrises you won't know if they are working correctly.

I wasn't looking for an exact answer but if people on average are getting more than 10,000 miles for example and I'm at 1,000 then they shouldn't be a problem

 

[ProfJohnL]

I wasn't looking for an exact answer but if people on average are getting more than 10,000 miles for example and I'm at 1,000 then they shouldn't be a problem

I would be very surprised and disappointed if the pads only lasted 1000 miles, but if you did a thousand miles cross country in the Australian out back , that would create more wear than 1000 miles even on old blighties roads.

It's not shere distance travelled that will wear them out it the amount of articulation they are exposed to, so in Milton Keynes with all their traffic islands you'll wear them out faster than plowing up and down the motorways.

 

[Hutch]

I think I probably had done more than 10 k miles in 5 years, but I go by, where the hitch, falls on the Arrows, and how much I have to push down on the hitch.
Mine normally need a hearty push.