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Subject Topic: Alko towball screeching!
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PersonDi+Glyn_W
via mobile 23/10/2021 at 10:36am
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Good morning all,

We have an Alko AKS 3004 stabiliser on our 2015 Bailey Valencia. It's serviced annually.

We tow with a BMW X4, with a removable tow bar. I clean the tow ball before each use using a fine polishing cloth.

But we still get a REALLY loud screeching noise from the towball when travelling... Although only when manoeuvring.

We've had it on and off over the years, but it seems to have become worse recently.

We arrived at a site yesterday, and the neighbours mentioned using talcum powder on the tow ball as a solution. That seems counter - intuitive to me, as seems to contaminate a towball that should be kept clean.

Does anyone have any ideas how to solve this? Pleeeeease! It's becoming a real nuisance.

Ta!

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Glyn W.


What if the Hokey Cokey really is what it's all about....?


Person664DaveS
via mobile 23/10/2021 at 10:52am
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I clean the towball with brake cleaning fluid, if there is any rust a bit of scotchbrite used first.
I also spray some on a cloth and wipe inside the hitch cleaning the friction materials, pads either side and the top and front bits. You do get some muck on the cloth.

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


PersonColin21
23/10/2021 at 11:40am
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Maybe the pads inside the hitch need some attention? I don't know what as I don't have one.

I have often wondered whether those stabilizer hitches screeched. I have got an ordinary hitch on my caravan, and if I don't grease the tow-ball it screeches. I know you can't grease the tow-ball if you have a stabilizer hitch as that would defeat the object.





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Best Regards,
Colin


Personratcatcher
23/10/2021 at 11:50am
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Have you checked the condition of the stabiliser pads?
we had exactly the same problem with my son's TA and although the pads didn't look too bad a new set cured the problem.
About 35 quid and really easy to change (just the side pads)


Personkpnuts81
23/10/2021 at 12:00pm
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I had that a few years ago, it just started as we were going away and was really loud by the time we got to our destination, caravan club site, asked if there was anyone local and they recommended a chap who came and replaced the pads charged me £15, when we returned home all was quiet, I actually bought another set when I got home and keep them with my kit


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Person664DaveS
via mobile 23/10/2021 at 12:38pm
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Mine was creaking and groaning last year but a thorough clean quietened it down. There is the odd creak but being a friction device not unexpected.

We still get the squeal from the brakes after a while despite them being replaced by Al Ko.

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


Personmarg6
23/10/2021 at 12:59pm
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clean everything down, but also before you start to reverse release the pressure on the tow hitch which will make reversing so much easier and quieter


Persontango55
23/10/2021 at 4:13pm
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You say you have had the caravan serviced annually so if the friction pads were worn the service engineer should have detected it and advised respectively that they need changing. However, you can check to see if the pads are worn yourself by getting the removable towbal and engaging it directly into the hitch and lock it in with the stabiliser handle. Once that is done, try pushing the towball from side to side. If it does move then it's evident that the internal friction pads are worn and need replacing. If it's rock solid then the problem is with the towball itself. No matter what you clean it with, there will still be minute particles of dust remaining on the towball surface which will interfere with the performance of the stabiliser and the way to cure that is to spray the towball with a brake and clutch cleaner as well as the inside of the hitch immediately before hitching up.


PersonDi+Glyn_W
via mobile 23/10/2021 at 5:52pm
 Location: Ashford Kent
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Thanks everyone for your replies...

I thought the pads were checked as part of the service, so will be contacting our dealer on Monday to find out.
I managed to get a pair of side pads from a nearby caravan dealer today, and have replaced those. What a simple job! 5 minutes, and done. The existing pads are completely glazed and have minor damage. I can't believe they were replaced in January, but will see what the workshop says on Monday. We've towed it about 800 miles this year (lock down was a real nuisance wasn't it??) so I'm not convinced.

I've used some emery paper on the front and rear pads, and will try to clean them with a clean cloth as best I can before we leave. Then will be buying a small can of brake cleaner for future use!

It's a lesson learned; I spend time thinking I've kept the towball clean, and it's only half a job! Some really helpful comments and advice on here, so thank you all for taking the time to reply.

-------------
Glyn W.


What if the Hokey Cokey really is what it's all about....?


PersonAncient Uncle
23/10/2021 at 11:28pm
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Quote: Originally posted by 664DaveS on 23/10/2021


We still get the squeal from the brakes after a while despite them being replaced by Al Ko.


Interesting. We had our brake drums and pads replaced under warranty just before the first lockdown.I note they are squealing again. So it is not just us. I wonder how many are having this problem?


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PersonDi+Glyn_W
via mobile 24/10/2021 at 4:51pm
 Location: Ashford Kent
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Hi Tango.... Just out of interest, is there a particular brake cleaner to use? Just about all I look at say they damage plastics, and I'm assuming the pads are plastic.... I don't want to cause more damage, so it's it just a case of cleaning them off with a cloth sprayed with brake cleaner? Sorry to be picky, I just don't want to have to pay out another £30....

-------------
Glyn W.


What if the Hokey Cokey really is what it's all about....?


Person664DaveS
via mobile 24/10/2021 at 5:08pm
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I have always use a bit on a cloth, it soon evaporates being I think trich based. The pads are a pretty hard material. No harm done to them.
I got mine from the well known High Street car parts emporium! It's made by Comma.

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


Personratcatcher
24/10/2021 at 5:45pm
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The pads are a hard composite material not unlike brake pads so any decent brake cleaner will do


PersonDi+Glyn_W
via mobile 24/10/2021 at 5:53pm
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Thanks Dave S.... I'll do that then..

-------------
Glyn W.


What if the Hokey Cokey really is what it's all about....?


Persontango55
24/10/2021 at 7:32pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Di+Glyn_W on 24/10/2021
Hi Tango.... Just out of interest, is there a particular brake cleaner to use? Just about all I look at say they damage plastics, and I'm assuming the pads are plastic.... I don't want to cause more damage, so it's it just a case of cleaning them off with a cloth sprayed with brake cleaner? Sorry to be picky, I just don't want to have to pay out another £30....


I think that the internal friction pads are actually made of a type of nylon and not plastic merely because plastic cracks under pressure when compressed which is exactly what the friction pads do. However, I have always used Holts Brake & Clutch Cleaner in a spray can as I believe it's the only product that you can use upside down and still delivers the spray. I've been using it for over ten years now and never had any issues with it.



PersonPickled Onion
25/10/2021 at 12:04pm
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The front and rear pad conditions are often overlooked when grinding noises are heard, the side pads are replaced when they may not need to be, plus they're not cheap. Getting a really good view of them means getting right underneath them with a good torch, you can then see the shiny glaze on them and the results of a good clean. Using a mirror just doesn't seem to work for me, there is nothing quite as good as the Mark 1 eyeball.

Dave.

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Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day,
Teach a man to fish and you can get rid of him for a whole weekend.



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