TOW BAR NOISE! Normal??

[SBS]

I thought the alko ball only came in contact with the friction pads?

my soon to be 6 year old alko hitch and ball, has never made a noise, i always keep the ball covered, and apart from rubbing my hand over the ball, never clean it, nor have i done anything to the original pads, still have the spare pads.

So i don't think the noise is normal?

Ray

It may be that your hitch doesn't groan BECAUSE you haven't cleaned it and there is insufficient friction to stabilise properly.

To anyone fitting new pads, do read the Alko instructions as the pads need shims adding/removing to ensure the correct pressure on the ball.

Mike

 

[Mel]

To follow up on what Ray said, we swapped our tow car and the tow bar had a fixed tow ball (previous car had a detachable one). Van has an alko stabiliiser. Loud groaning creaking noise resulted. At first we thought that there must be muck on the pads (even though tow ball had been cleaned); checked these, they were clean. Only after some months and a number of journeys did I learn from this forum of the existance of an alko towball with a longer neck. Fitted it and the noise stopped. Read later that the van could have become unhitched!!

mel

 

[phillip_374558452]

the noise you heared in the begining was probably a dirty tow ball as said befour spray brake cleaner on tow ball and clean it you can olso spray it on the friction pads in hitch but make shure you get the right cleaner as some cleaners are no good on friction pads or brake shoes

 

[MagsAlan]

Hello Steve,

I think you may have missed the crucial bit of info, Mags and Alan are using a bar type stabiliser , not an Alko one.

Consequently the ball can be lubricated with some grease.

As for the noise, some stabilisers do make some noise when they are asked to turn sharp bends, but as with any running gear questions it is difficult for forum members to give copper bottomed safe advice. I suggest you have your garage or stabiliser fitter check it out.

Thanks John L. We will do the greasing and check all the 'nuts and bolts' then take the van out for a little run, see if it is still doing it. If it is, we will get the experts to have a look.

 

[TD42]

MAGS/ALLEN A blade type stabilizer can also need attention to the clutch plate,they tend to glaze after exstensive use.You can seperate the discs & remove the glaze with sandpaper but on assembly the center nut must be set to the correct torque setting . fit the blade to the car & lock down the quick release with the handle.use bathroom scales held sideways to the end of the blade.push the blade in towards the centre of the car. adjust clutch nut till you get 60lb reading on the scales

all though low speed groaning from the stabilizer is not unusual

 

[MagsAlan]

Thanks for that Tony. We applied a dollop of grease to the tow ball and some to up inside the hitch before our last trip a couple of weeks ago and it seemed to solve the problem, i will however print out your advice, in case we get a recurrence which isn't solved by greasing.

Mags & Alan