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Subject Topic: Groaning/Creaking Noise Post Reply Post New Topic
Personmjjones17
16/4/2017 at 10:18am
 Location: South Wales
 Outfit: Lunar Clubman SE View mjjones17's Profile View Profile   Reply to mjjones17 Reply   Quote mjjones17 Quote  
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Due to a recent rear end shunt in the car I've had a new towbar fitted.

Last week was our first run out this year and noticed that when driving at slow speed or maneuvering around site there was a groaning creaking noise metal on metal type that wasn't there before.

Anyone any ideas?

Cheers


Persontango55
16/4/2017 at 10:19am
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 450 View tango55's Profile View Profile   Reply to tango55 Reply   Quote tango55 Quote  
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Am I right in saying that you have a stabiliser hitch fitted to the caravan?


Personmjjones17
16/4/2017 at 10:37am
 Location: South Wales
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tango55, yeah


Persontango55
16/4/2017 at 10:57am
 Location: Lichfield
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Okay, then this is a typical symptom that can quite often cause creaking and groaning. The problem is surface dust or corrosion on either the towball or the friction pads inside the hitch especially if the caravan has been standing for several months. The solution is to clean the towball with a washing up sponge/scourer then apply a degreasing spray such as a a brake cleaner spray. Get some smooth sandpaper and clean the friction pad surfaces inside the hitch and clean again with a spray of brake cleaner. I always use Holts Brake Cleaner as you can use the can upside down which is ideal for under the hitch.
I do this every time before starting off as I encountered this many years ago which was quite annoying but problem solved and never had any issues since.


PersonRob and Tina
16/4/2017 at 1:13pm
 Location: Royal Forest of Dean
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Did you clean the paint from the new tow ball?

Rob


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PersonGrampian91
16/4/2017 at 4:20pm
 Location: Midlands
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My first thoughts also, paint on the towball of they fitted a new swan neck style one and greased it?


Personmjjones17
16/4/2017 at 7:54pm
 Location: South Wales
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Cheers all, will give the advice a go before next trip out.


PersonGrampian91
16/4/2017 at 10:42pm
 Location: Midlands
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If there is still paint in the ball or other contaminants you may need to fit new pads in the hitch to stop it groaning.


Person664DaveS
18/4/2017 at 10:06am
 Location: Shropshire
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They do groan a bit when the pads in the hitch get worn.
I usually clean ball with brake cleaner before use, as you get surface rust.Clean inside the ball cover too!

-------------
DS-There's more to life than football!!!


Personcorni
28/4/2017 at 12:36pm
 Location: Doncaster
 Outfit: Peugeot Autocruise Starfire 2 berth View corni's Profile View Profile   Reply to corni Reply   Quote corni Quote  
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Thanks for advice Tango.
The creaking and groaning scared us to death going to flamboro.lol.
Couldn't find any Hoots but bought Wynns brake cleaner instead. Did job brilliantly. Not a squeak on way home. Cheers.


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Persontango55
28/4/2017 at 4:26pm
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 450 View tango55's Profile View Profile   Reply to tango55 Reply   Quote tango55 Quote  
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Glad the advice was beneficial and the problem sorted.

It's a vuluable bit of knowledge knowing how to curb the annoying creaking. I had the problem for a couple of years thinking it was something serious till someone gave me a simple solution to the problem.



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