Squeak driving me mad

[JohnM20]

Hi All

Does anyone have any suggestions ? I have an Alko stabiliser hitch which has now done about 6,000 miles total. Before any towing journey I religiously clean the pads and also the towball using either Scotchbrite pad or fine emery cloth, cleaning off the swarf with brake cleaner fluid. I have even taken the pads out completely from time to time to make sure they are spotlessly clean.

For the first 10 to 15 minutes of the journey everything is quiet - and then it starts. Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak. Its like a blooming great mouse sat in the back of the car ! It's not the usual stabiliser groan but a squeak like something rubbing on wet rubber. It seems to be as bad in the pitching direction as when turning so even on a fairly straight road, any surface undulations start the noise.

Any suggestions as to how to kill the squeak would be appreciated. (As far as I know, it isn't a mouse !!!!)

John M

 

[Robert_374373903]

Turn the radio up!.I have the same problem thought of replacing the discs plus i carry a can of brake cleaner with me now fo when it gets annoying.

 

[dougdotcom]

could possiably be something else, like the hitch flexing or the black or gray cables too tight or catching the hitch, or even the bulk head of the caravan loose near the a frame, (mastly caused by bumpy roads or tracks or towing with a heavy sprung car or truck.) or your towball has worn out of shape (unlikly though)when it dose the squeking try a private road and have someone sit in the van at the front to find more out about the noise, get them to look in the front bed box near the bulk head for any noise or flexing near the floor.

 

[ollycaravanmad]

I had plenty of problems with mine i found it was not the caravan but the tow bar on the car rubbing on the plastic bumper it sounds silly but it does move ever so slightly.

i went through a number of ways of elimanating things, try moving the caravan with the staberliser handle up so there is no presure on the ball. The other thing is the large staberliser handle could be rubbing on the handbrake if it was a caravan which was not origanally fitted with a alko staberliser the handbrake is very close. just another thought you have got all the paint of the tow ball try rubbing it a bit more with some wire wool it is easy enough to think all the paint is off but still leaving some residue there.

mine does no longer make a sound, sorry to rub it in im sure you will get there!!! hope it helps cheers olly

 

[Ray197]

hi john

i had the same problem last year wot i found that the hitch was bone dry there was no grease on the hitch,so got myself a grease gun and greased it using using the 2 grease nipples on the A frame,im no expert but that solved my problem , i hope this helps you

 

[SBS]

"hi john

i had the same problem last year wot i found that the hitch was bone dry there was no grease on the hitch,so got myself a grease gun and greased it using using the 2 grease nipples on the A frame,im no expert but that solved my problem , i hope this helps you"

There are 3 grease points on the Alko over run assembly. You will find the third one underneath.

Hope this helps

Mike

 

[James_374408700]

Hi John,

Have you got the extended neck tow ball for use with the Alco stabiliser?

 

[xtrailman]

I had a strange sound at the back of the car. Thought it was something banging in the bottle box. It happened randomly.

I made a better job of padding out on the next journey only for it to happen again. But more often.

Got the van home, then set about checking the towbar, i've always checked the six bolts on the chassis for tightness, always been ok.

I finally thought to stand on the towbar, i only weigh 140 pounds, towbar gave a nasty squeak, and dropped 1/2"!

Turned out the bolts at each end under the bumper were loose.

I have noticed on the latest Witter towbar i've had fitted that captive nuts are used, and they have returned to galvanised bolts, rather than the plated ones on the old Xtrail.

Never touched the AKS pads or ball, just test it once a year with a towball attached to a 3 foot bar.

Perhaps if it is the alko, you may have over done the sanding etc?

Anyway as said, you can eliminate it by towing with the bar up, pads off.

 

[James_374408700]

Hi again John,

Another thought, try towing with the friction pads not under pressure.i.e Handle up. This might indicate if the problem is friction pad based.

 

[James_374408700]

Hi again John,

Another thought, try towing with the friction pads not under pressure.i.e Handle up. This might indicate if the problem is friction pad based.

 

[xtrailman]

only two grease points on my bailey.

Three on the Avondale we had.